The Tech-Based Franchise Teaches Life-Changing Skills through Fun, Interactive Activities
Tracy and Rob Hedgpeth understood the importance of empowering children through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Rob’s background is in technology, and Tracy’s is in education. As parents themselves, they saw the benefits of child enrichment activities in STEM for their young son and wanted to provide such opportunities for other children.
The Hedgpeths are among the most recent entrepreneurs to invest in a Code Ninjas franchise. Code Ninjas is one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing children’s coding franchises with hundreds of centers across the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. The couple is set to open their Code Ninjas center, or dojo, in the spring of 2025 in their hometown of Nixa, Mo.
“Rob and Tracy will be a fantastic addition to the Code Ninjas family,” says Navin Gurnaney, CEO of Code Ninjas. “Their deep-rooted commitment to empowering young minds through hands-on coding education perfectly aligns with our mission. They bring a wealth of experience in both education and technology, which will be invaluable in fostering a vibrant learning environment in Nixa.”
A Child Enrichment Franchise
Founded in 2016, Code Ninjas instructors, or senseis, lead fun, interactive activities including building video games, coding and robotics in age- and skillset-appropriate programs for kids ages 5-15. The child enrichment franchise also offers coding camps and home-school programs, and hosts tech-themed birthday parties, Code Ninjas Clubs in which teams tackle collaborative projects, and parents’ nights out giving parents time for themselves and reassurance that their children are in a safe, learning environment.
Through STEM education, children tap their creativity, and gain confidence, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. “Empowering young minds with computational thinking is like giving them a key to unlock limitless possibilities. Through coding, problem-solving, and creativity, children develop the superpower to shape the future and become the architects of innovation,” Gurnaney says.
With its motto, “A World Where Kids Write the Code,” Code Ninjas also strives to foster positive relationships with the communities they serve, not only by providing safe and welcoming learning environments for kids outside of school, but by encouraging students to use their coding skills to make a positive impact themselves, by creating apps or websites to solve local problems.
The Case for STEM Education
The global market size for STEM education in kindergarten through 12th grade was estimated at $51.76 billion in 2023 and is projected to increase at a combined annual growth rate of 14% from 2024 to 2030, according to Grand View Research. “An unprecedented spike in high-tech occupations and the need for innovations and critical thinking have expedited the trend for STEM education. Advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, could reinforce the STEM education system to propel innovation-based competitiveness,” Grand View reported.
The need for STEM education is heightened by setbacks in student achievement resulting from remote learning during the pandemic, particularly as students were deprived of hands-on and collaborative learning experiences, according to the scholarly publication MDPI. Up to 38% of eighth graders were functioning below the basic level in math, according to 2022 scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Rob and Tracy Hedgpeth recognize the need for child enrichment and STEM education, and they want to be part of the solution. “As parents ourselves, we are acutely aware of the opportunities available for kids, particularly in the education sector. There is nothing like Code Ninjas in our area, and we want to create a space where our son, as well as other children in the community, can learn the importance of coding and develop essential skills for the future,” says Tracy, who has three degrees in education from Hofstra University, and work experience in education and human resources.
Rob, who has a computer science degree from Missouri State University, works as a principal architect in AI at Microsoft, responsible for setting the technical direction and mapping out how different systems work together. “With my background and passion for technology, opening a Code Ninjas in our hometown felt like a natural choice,” he says. “I’ve spent years teaching coding to adults, and I genuinely enjoy helping people understand how to leverage technology. I truly believe that it’s all about providing the right support and resources to ignite that understanding.”
To learn more about Code Ninjas franchising opportunities, visit https://connect.codeninjas.com/franchising/home.
