Some K-12 schools can lack the resources to give students access to technologies that will shape the workforce they will soon be entering. At the same time the high cost of higher education can be a barrier to many.
With a goal of offering access to a tech education to all who are interested, or even those looking for a change in careers, Circle Coding Academy is planning on bringing its program to downtown Dallas, as it looks to expand with a number of locations across the state.
“If we can connect people who like technology with a great education that’s making them job-ready and connecting them with companies that need tech talent here in Dallas, then we have this beautiful synthesis and good things will happen,” said Chris Lofton, CEO of Circle Coding Academy. “Companies can grow, they can have great talent, and people can improve their standard of living and find more satisfaction out of life.”
Led by Lofton, who himself was an educator in Texas schools, the coding academy offers a 48-week program that takes students from an introduction to web development to full-stack development. At the end of the course, students work with staff, who themselves work in related fields, to find job placements.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvlytBUgpa4[/embed]
The classes are flipped from the traditional classroom, in addition to being project-based. Students typically spend 15-20 hours outside of the classroom learning the basics of a lesson. Then, they spend six hours per week with an instructor who works in the field to gain more in-depth and hands-on understanding.
Lofton said beyond helping companies connect with quality talent, the goal of the academy is to help students increase their earnings, develop a better understanding of the technology shaping the world, as well as helping them see more potential in their future.
“Our mission is to produce freedom through education,” Lofton said. “What I get to help do is help [students] learn a skill in one year that will absolutely transform their life.”
Circle currently operates in Austin and Lubbock. The company also plans on opening an academy in partnership with Texas Tech in Marble Falls, as well as opening a support facility for community colleges in Amarillo.
"I think we’ll see more innovation, more startups, new ideas, more transformative ways that we can live."
Lofton said Dallas was chosen due to the large number of residents and tech companies in the area, and also the amount of tech job openings in the Metroplex. In 2019, SmartAsset named Dallas as No. 2 for the best places to work in tech, with about 4% of residents employed in the industry. And as technology becomes increasingly interconnected with every industry, Lofton said the need for skilled employees will likely only grow.
The coding academy is got approval from the Texas Workforce Commission to open its Dallas location on Jan. 17. Once approved, it is expected to open in downtown later this year. Lofton said that at its other locations, students have a job placement rate of more than 95%.
“I think everyone deserves this opportunity and I can’t imagine not trying to give this opportunity to as many people as possible… let’s help as many people as possible,” Lofton said.“I think if we can find innovative educational approaches to help people access their potential more... then I think we’ll see more innovation, more startups, new ideas, more transformative ways that we can live… that has to be the goal.”
