HISTORY
Our Story
Bits, Bytes & Bots has been serving the Mid-South since 2019. We have offered programs at public schools, private schools, community centers, and private events. Our flexible curriculum and awesome team allow us to be one of Memphis's leading providers in STEM education. We promise to provide a fun and educational environment for each of our students.
Our lead instructors are bright university students who study a STEM-related field. These soon-to-be coders and engineers love sharing their knowledge with younger generations.
Our assistant instructors are high schoolers from the Memphis area. Their passion for STEM and energy for learning allow them to relate well to our students.
We are run by Dan Roberts and Lesly Urbina, but it is our patient and delightfully nerdy instructors who truly make Bit, Bytes, & Bots fun for students of all ages. Dan and Lesly have hand-picked each of our instructors. We are proud to introduce our team!
meet the team
Dan Roberts 🇺🇸, Founder & Director
Lesly Urbina 🇭🇳, Lead Instructor & Coordinator
Lesly Urbina 🇭🇳, Lead Instructor & Coordinator
Dan is a lifelong Memphian. After attending school at CMDS, Richland, Houston Middle, and Houston High Schools, Dan earned a BS in Engineering from Northwestern University and a Masters in Engineering from Christian Brothers University. He has 15 years of experience teaching math and science and tutoring for the ACT.
Lesly Urbina 🇭🇳, Lead Instructor & Coordinator
Lesly Urbina 🇭🇳, Lead Instructor & Coordinator
Lesly Urbina 🇭🇳, Lead Instructor & Coordinator
Lesly is a computer science and mathematics major at Christian Brothers University. Lesly is determined to break barriers and make space for herself in the tech field. She loves encouraging girls' interest in coding. Lesly joined Bits, Bytes, & Bots in 2021, and she has developed a love for teaching ever since.
Lead Instructors
Derek Herrera Diaz 🇲🇽
Christopher Mendez 🇲🇽🇭🇳
Christopher Mendez 🇲🇽🇭🇳
Derek is a first-generation Mexican computer science major at Christian Brothers University. His interest in the niche world of computer history archival has made him a great addition to the team. He has also always wanted to work in the educational field. Being part of the team allows him to combine his loves of technology and teaching!
Christopher Mendez 🇲🇽🇭🇳
Christopher Mendez 🇲🇽🇭🇳
Christopher Mendez 🇲🇽🇭🇳
Christopher is a computer science major with a concentration in cybersecurity at Christian Brothers University. He enjoys teaching and helping his peers with coding-related issues. He loves helping his students discover their potential. We believe his patience and commitment to helping others learn makes him a great BBB instructor!
Jorge Sanchez 🇲🇽
Christopher Mendez 🇲🇽🇭🇳
Leonardo Sanchez 🇻🇪
Jorge is a computer science and math major at Christian Brothers University. Originally from Athens, GA, he has come to Memphis to study and serve the community. His love for children and teaching has truly made him a great instructor! Jorge hopes to expand diversity and create a safe space for everyone in STEM.
Leonardo Sanchez 🇻🇪
Leonardo Sanchez 🇻🇪
Leonardo Sanchez 🇻🇪
Leonardo is a computer science and mathematics major at Christian Brothers University. He has worked for non-profits teaching coding and web development to kids from Tennessee to Mississippi. He hopes that with his work he will generate a passion for technology in younger generations.
Vivian Pastrana 🇭🇳
Leonardo Sanchez 🇻🇪
Vivian Pastrana 🇭🇳
Vivian is an electrical engineering and computer science major at Christian Brothers University. Vivian was born and raised in Honduras and moved to Durham, NC, at the age of 8. She brings previous experience working at schools that makes her a great BBB instructor. During her free time, she likes to play video games, go on walks with her beagle named Jade, or watch shows.
Leo Pitre 🇹🇼
Leonardo Sanchez 🇻🇪
Vivian Pastrana 🇭🇳
Leo is a computer science and math major at Christian Brother University. He was born and raised in Taiwan for 12 years. He enjoys using his math skills to help his students figure out how to solve puzzles and coding problems.
Manuel Soto 🇲🇽
Philip Pounds 🇺🇸
Philip Pounds 🇺🇸
Manuel is a computer science major at Christian Brothers University, specializing in cybersecurity. He is a first-generation college student originally from DeQueen, Arkansas. Immersed in STEM studies, he participates coding competitions and workshops to enhance his teaching skills!
Philip Pounds 🇺🇸
Philip Pounds 🇺🇸
Philip Pounds 🇺🇸
Philip has developed apps, led coding organizations around Memphis, and been with Bits, Bytes, & Bots since 2020. He creates a safe pace for students to learn STEM through trial and error. His patience and relatability allow him to connect with students and lead them toward success.
Connor Jordon 🇺🇸
Philip Pounds 🇺🇸
Connor Jordon 🇺🇸
Connor hopes to make knowledge of technology accessible to everyone. He has dedicated his time teaching STEM camps for Houston Middle. His great communication skills and love for kids make him a great instructor.
Assistant Instructors
John Pounds 🇺🇸
Blake Freeman 🇺🇸
Blake Freeman 🇺🇸
John is 17 years old and homeschooled, and has been programming in various languages since 4th grade. He currently does lots of web development and is on the leadership team of Memphis Hack Club. He loves teaching, and finds great fulfillment in helping the students understand the material and apply it to their personal projects!
Blake Freeman 🇺🇸
Blake Freeman 🇺🇸
Blake Freeman 🇺🇸
Blake has dedicated his life to pursuing the STEM field. Outside of Bits, Bytes, & Bots he is a student teacher for engineering and robotics classes; he also founded a non-profit organization tasked with giving students engaging ways to code. Through his passion he hopes to lead the new generation with a love of technology and how to use it.
Scott Yelland 🇺🇸
Scott Yelland 🇺🇸
Scott Yelland 🇺🇸
Scott currently attends Mid-South Gifted Academy. His fascination in engineering and leadership skills makes him a great instructor. Being one of Dan's students has also made me extra prepared to be an instructor. In his free time he loves to travel and has been traveling since he was a kid.
Dylan Nixon 🇺🇸
Scott Yelland 🇺🇸
Scott Yelland 🇺🇸
Dylan goes to White Station High where he has taken every available comp sci class. He has received the CompTia IT certification for hardware and software knowledge. He also comes from a family of STEM workers and teachers, which make him a great instructor!