Sreenidi Bala,

Sreenidi Bala is a passionate 16-year-old advocate for equitable education, dedicated to empowering students of all abilities. In 2020, After recognizing a gap in STEM education for special needs students at her school district, she developed ASPIRE Adaptive STEM, the first course of its kind at her school, to introduce these students to the field of STEM and ignite their interest.

Realizing this disparity extended beyond her town, Sreenidi founded Code for All Minds, a free online platform offering educators and families comprehensive lessons on coding, digital citizenship, and essential tech skills, tailored specifically for special needs students.

Through partnerships with her state Department of Education, college access programs, STEM nonprofits, and autism influencers, Code for All Minds has reached students nationwide. Recently appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Connecticut State Board of Education, Sreenidi now represents over 500,000 students, advocating for their concerns. Sreenidi is committed to furthering opportunities for these students, while also helping the world recognize the immense potential they hold.