In this episode of Chalk and Code, host Jill Foley sits down with Kiera Peltz, Founder and CEO of The Coding School, to explore how happiness economics, equity, and emerging technology education are deeply connected.

Kiera shares her journey from studying happiness at Brown to launching The Coding School from her college dorm room at 19, driven by a belief that access to technical skills is foundational to agency and wellbeing. She reflects on global perspectives gained in China, early validation from school leaders, and the urgency she felt to rethink how and when students are introduced to computer science.

Throughout the conversation, Kiera unpacks what equity looks like in practice, from high-touch retention strategies to designing programs that work for students learning on mobile devices. She also shares how bold experimentation led to scaling quantum computing and AI education, partnerships with IBM, and earning a $3M Department of Defense grant. The episode closes with a forward-looking view of why depth, not just awareness, is essential in preparing students for a rapidly evolving future.