We take pride in our team of highly qualified educators at Spark Lab. Each member has a strong background in STEM, a deep passion for teaching, and a commitment to helping young learners succeed in robotics and coding. Our staff brings a wealth of experience from both academic and industry fields, ensuring that our students receive a well-rounded, expert-led education.
James Gardiner
James Gardiner has a mechanical engineering background with a Bachelor's degree from UCLA and is currently pursuing his Master's at UCI. With two years of prior tutoring experience, he is skilled at making complex STEM concepts, especially mechanical principles and physics, accessible to students. His hands-on experience, from mechanical design to using 3D printers, allows him to provide real-world context for academic topics. James looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm and expertise with the students at the Spark Lab Academy.
Havva Ferman
Havva is the academy's administrator, she is responsible for managing daily operations and occasionally supporting students in class. Havva holds an Associate's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and currently pursuing her Bachelor's in Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine. With several years of experience as a math tutor, she excels at helping students develop strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Havva is passionate about sharing her love for STEM and is always ready to help students lay the groundwork for a successful future.
Thomas Leardini
Thomas is a computer science student at Vanguard University with a strong foundation in programming, web design, and emerging technologies. He specializes in Java, Python, and web development tools, and has hands-on experience in virtual reality and cybersecurity. With a passion for teaching and mentoring, Thomas enjoys helping students build real-world tech skills in a supportive and engaging environment.
Mohamed Zoweil
Mohamed brings a powerful and unique blend of industry expertise and dedicated educational practice to Spark Lab. With over 18 years of experience leading high-impact engineering teams at technology giants like Google and Microsoft, he provides invaluable insight into what future innovators need to succeed.
Mohamed is also a deeply committed educator. He is a credentialed teacher in Orange County, where he currently teaches Robotics and AP Computer Science in local schools. He is passionate about empowering young learners to become confident creators of technology.