Coding Teacher for Kids: Dong Mei

Whether you have been a long time student at Penguin Coding School, or just a parent who is curious about our staff, we would love to give you a warm introduction to one of our teachers, Dong Mei.

Before teaching coding at Penguin, Dong Mei was studying at Connecticut College with a major in Human Development and a minor in Computer Science. She graduated back in May of 2019, and since September of 2019, she has been teaching a variety of classes here, such as Minecraft, Roblox, Python, Web Design, and LEGO Robotics.

On top of her time spent teaching students, she also trains new teachers at the school, making sure to prepare them for how to properly teach kids code. She values a combination of education as well as motivation in order to inspire students to do the impossible.

If you are interested in learning more, feel free to follow along to see my interview with Dong Mei where we talk about her experience at Penguin Coding School, along with her dreams and aspirations. 

What is your name, age, and hometown?

DM:  My name is Dong Mei Sarafan, I'm 25 years old, and I grew up in Acton, MA.

Give us a fun fact about yourself:

DM: A fun fact about me is that I lived in China for the first four years of my life.

When did it become your goal to teach coding classes?

DM: In my junior year of college, I was taking computer science courses that I really enjoyed, but I knew that I did not want to work in strictly a science specific role. I really wanted to work with kids. Teaching kids computer science was the perfect balance between my two desires.

What did you major in at college?

DM: I majored in Human Development. Human development is a range of psychology and sociology courses, and specifically teaches students about how individuals grow throughout their lives. In terms of development, we were taught about how humans grow emotionally and mentally.

What is the most rewarding part of teaching at Penguin Coding School?

DM: The most rewarding part for me is when the kids get the AHA! moment. It is great to see something click for them and then continue to use that knowledge to create something on their own with code. 

What is the best part about working with younger kids?

DM: The best part about working with younger kids is that their stories and tangents bring so much spirit and laughter into the classroom.

Who is your role model in the STEM field?

DM: I would say my role model is Dean Kamen. Dean created First LEGO League (or FLL for short). It is a great program that I wish I was a part of when I was a kid. Combining LEGOS and coding would have been my childhood dream.

Which coding language is your favorite and why?

DM: I would say HTML and CSS because they can be used to make websites and you can do so much from knowing these languages. I want to continue learning more about them so that I can do more! 

If you could create, and sell a product that you made using coding software, what would it be?

DM: I would invent teleportation using code. I think it would be helpful to me in order to save time doing my tasks and allowing me to spend more time doing what I love.

Where do you foresee your future in the teaching realm?

DM: I foresee myself continuing to spread coding knowledge to kids, whether it be through teaching, app development, or making websites. I want to continue inspiring others that they can do whatever they put their minds to.

If you could teach anywhere in the world, where would you teach?

DM: If I could teach anywhere in the world, I would want to teach in Japan. I love Japanese culture, and there are so many unique and interesting ways in which the Japanese teach their curriculum.

To find out more about our teachers here at Penguin, check out our teacher page on our website!