When students meet Stephanie Lugo, known as “Ms. Robotics”, they quickly sense her belief in every learner’s potential. As Director of Robotics at the South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures & the Arts, she’s dedicated to closing the education gap through innovative programs in VEX IQ, drones, and coding. Her passion for STEM, which earned her the nickname “Ms. Robotics,” lights up classrooms and inspires students to code with creativity. Through her company, she offers engaging curriculum and educator support, empowering communities and advancing equity in education.
A Turning Point: Maya’s Story
Stephanie recalls one particularly powerful moment when imagi transformed a student’s perspective on coding.
Maya, a tenth grader, walked into class convinced that programming wasn’t for her. She had tried block-based coding before and felt uninspired. But everything changed when Stephanie introduced an imagi Code Challenge, inviting students to combine Python syntax with pixel art and teamwork to create animated charms.
To everyone’s surprise, including her own, Maya quickly engaged. imagi’s instant visual feedback turned lines of code into vibrant animations, making abstract logic feel tangible. For the first time, Maya saw her code come to life. She embraced mistakes as part of the learning process and grew more curious with every iteration. By the end of the challenge, her project won first place, and she left the room declaring her dream to study computer science in college.
imagi doesn’t just teach students to code; it sparks curiosity by making learning feel like exploration. When given the right tools and support, students can become confident, joyful learners, even in areas they once avoided.
Why imagi Works in the Classroom
As a passionate STEM advocate, Stephanie has tried dozens of coding tools, but imagi stands out for being both impactful and approachable:
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Sparks Curiosity: imagi lessons turn abstract Python concepts into beautiful pixel-art creations, encouraging experimentation and engagement.
When students see their Python commands generate colorful designs in seconds, they become willing participants in the learning process. They’re excited to experiment, ask questions, and push boundaries.
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Empowers Learners: Through imagi’s feedback loop - write, test, debug, repeat - students naturally develop resilience and a growth mindset.
The iterative process imagi offers helps students see themselves as capable problem solvers. They learn that being ‘wrong’ is simply the first step toward getting it right.
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Fosters Joyful Learning: imagi’s intuitive interface and classroom-ready materials make coding feel more like play than work.
My students light up when they realize coding doesn’t have to be dry. They genuinely enjoy the work because they see immediate, colorful results of their efforts.
Empowering Classrooms Through Access and Partnerships
Stephanie praises imagi’s commitment to listening to educators. The free handouts, ready-made slides, and engaging challenges are built with classroom realities in mind—saving teachers precious prep time while supporting student success.
imagi’s handouts and lesson guides are incredibly effective. They reinforce learning through an iterative process that’s vital for STEM. Plus, everything is free and teacher-ready, no last-minute scrambling to design slides or write code samples. It’s all there.
Because imagi lowers technical and financial barriers, it’s a go-to solution for classrooms of all types, whether well-equipped labs or device-limited schools.
By lowering both technical and financial barriers, imagi becomes a go-to tool for classrooms of all kinds - from high-tech labs to schools with limited devices. Through Ms. Robotics LLC, Stephanie extends this mission by partnering with organizations like Google Code Next, Microsoft Xbox, and MIT to bring hands-on STEM opportunities to underserved communities.
Whether I’m working with drones, VEX IQ robots, or imagi’s Python platform, my goal is always the same: to help every student see themselves as creators, not just consumers of technology. The partnerships we build, like those with Google Code Next and MIT, enable us to bring cutting-edge experiences to students who deserve those opportunities most.
Looking Ahead: The imagi Curriculum and Debugging Buddy
Stephanie continues to expand her impact with after-school programs, summer camps, and professional development centered around imagi’s Python curriculum. One of her favorite new additions? The Debugging Buddy - an AI-powered feature that helps students reflect on and correct their code.
My mission is to create inclusive learning environments where every student feels valued and respected. imagi helps me do that by making coding approachable and fun. When students are happy doing the work, they learn more deeply, and they start to imagine a future where they belong in STEM.
That’s why we’ve launched our newly differentiated computer science curriculum, now live on the imagiEdu platform. The new curriculum introduces grade-banded pathways for Grades 3-5 and 6-8, featuring unplugged activities, clear pacing, simplified teaching slides, and developmentally appropriate scaffolding. It’s already being used in classrooms to make creative computer science more accessible, engaging, and effective for all learners.
Join the Movement
Inspired by Stephanie’s story? Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, or STEM advocate, you can bring the joy of coding to your classroom with imagi.
Explore free lessons, challenges, and creative coding tools at edu.imagilabs.com, and start sparking curiosity today.
