Happy Summer! My summer started with meeting this lovely new friend at Fernbank Science Center, courtesy of DeKalb County CTAE WBL Appreciation Day.
Now, I may not know how to code in python, but I can definitely hold a python!
Moral of the story: Do hard things. Do the things that push you out of your comfort zone. And then find the magic that exists there.
– Alefiya Master
Looking to build your confidence with HTML & CSS this summer? Join us for Byte-Sized PD: A No-Stress Start to Learning HTML & CSS! This fun, hands-on training is perfect for beginners—no coding experience needed. You’ll learn how to build and style a simple screen using MAD-learn’s HCJ builder, understand how HTML & CSS work together, and pick up practical tips for teaching coding to your students.
Check out the flyer below for more information. Space is limited to just 20 participants, so don’t wait! Scan the QR code in the flyer to register. Let’s code, connect, and have some summer fun.
We’re thrilled to welcome our 2025 summer interns to the MAD-learn team! Please join us in celebrating this talented group of students from GA and HI: Holden Guthrie, Omar DeJesus, Alaina Dhople, Acacia Kawaihae Brown, Logan Lutu-Carroll, Mercedes Rzonca, and Ehlana Goff.
We love our interns and are always inspired by the creativity and passion they bring to their work. If you or someone you know is interested in applying to our virtual internship program, you can learn more at mad-learn.com/intern.
We’re so excited to kick off another season of MAD-learn summer camps across the country! This year, we’re partnering with Seminole State College GEAR UP in Oklahoma, Del Valle ISD GEAR UP in Texas and Nanakuli-Waianae Area Complex Schools in Hawaii to bring hands-on learning and creativity to students through our mobile app development camps.
Each camp takes students through the full design thinking process—from brainstorming ideas to building their own apps—all while sparking innovation, collaboration, and confidence. We can’t wait to see what these young creators dream up this summer! Check out the photos below from some of our previous app camps.
It’s been a whirlwind of activity lately—and we wouldn’t have it any other way! From energizing professional developments to conferences, the MAD-learn team has been all over Georgia this month. We’ve loved connecting with educators at Cobb InTech, STEMapalooza, NWGA RESA, a Guardians of Heritage event at Georgia State College and we’re continuing our Georgia-tour in Athens this week as we head to GACTE. Be sure to stop by and say hello if you will also be in Athens—we’d love to connect.
Check out some of our favorite photos from the road below.
This month, we’re proud to once again shine a spotlight on Victoria McNaughton, a dedicated educator whose passion for student success continues to inspire us.
Victoria teaches Business and Game Design at Wilson Tech in New York, where she brings real-world experience and a creative mindset to her classroom. She’s not only a long-time partner of MAD-learn, but also a true champion for student innovation—participating in events like our MAD-app contest and serving as a featured speaker for our Teacher Takeover series.
What sets Victoria apart is her student-centered approach to teaching. When we recently sat down with her and her students to learn more about the school store app they developed—one of three winners in this year’s MAD-app contest—we were blown away by the level of thought and problem-solving that went into it. The team even coded in a working order form. In fact, we were so impressed that we’re now adapting their code as a template to add an order form feature to MAD-learn’s HCJ Code Set Library—with credit to Victoria’s students, of course.
Victoria shared that her role in the classroom is to be a facilitator, not just a deliverer of content. She shared how important it is for students to think critically and figure things out on their own. Her belief in exploration, ownership, and real-world application is exactly what we hope to inspire through MAD-learn. We’re so grateful for educators like Victoria, who go above and beyond to empower their students—and to share what they’ve learned with other teachers along the way.
… watching this fantastic recording of last week’s Intern Insights! These former MAD-learn interns shared their motivation for interning with us, what the experience was like, what they learned, and how they now view their futures. It was FANTASTIC!
Plus, our current interns had the opportunity to hear from past MAD-learn intern alumni for inspiration, advice, and shared experiences.
