Instructors
Girls Code Savannah follows a mentorship model of instruction. Our Founder & Executive Director, Lesli Ott, is an experienced full-stack software developer and data scientist. She leads our curriculum development and also serves both as a Lead Instructor for Girls Code Savannah camps and classes as well as a teaching mentor for several senior-level high school students and college students assisting with our program. These high school and college students, in turn, lead instruction for future Girls Code Savannah sessions.
As a Founding Instructor, Zoe Chow, a rising college freshman, has been with Girls Code Savannah since its inception. Her passion for the mission, dedication to teaching students, and spirit of collaboration is a shining example of the powerful impact that a young leader can make both on an organization and within a community.
If you are, or know of, a senior-level high school student or college student who has experience or interest in coding and may be interested in assisting us with future Girls Code Savannah camps or classes, please email Lesli Ott at
Lesli Ott
Founder & Executive Director
Lead Instructor
Full-Stack Software Developer
CEO, Menther
Zoe Chow
Founding & Lead Instructor
Rising College Freshman
Georgia Tech
Biomedical Engineering
Virginia Copeland
Lead Instructor
Joined May 2023
Rising College Freshman
Georgia College
Journalism
Carleysue Mayes
Lead Instructor
Joined May 2023
Rising College Freshman
University of North Georgia
Cybersecurity & Computer Science
Sheila Nguyen
Lead Instructor
Joined May 2023
Rising College Junior
Georgia Tech
Industrial Engineering
Michelle Ngo
Assistant Instructor
Joined Oct 2023
Rising College Senior
Georgia Tech
Computer Science
Jessie May Wolfe
Board Member
Joined Oct 2023
Guest Instructor
CEO, HeartRise Movement
Reilly Baylor
Assistant Instructor
Joined May 2024
Rising College Freshman
Kennesaw State
Sociology
Dr. Berthenia Colonel
Assistant Instructor
Joined May 2024
Computer Science & FBLA Adviser
STEM Academy at Bartlett
Marki Lyons
Lead Instructor
Joined May 2024
Generative AI Analyst
Software & Product Developer
Rachel Ngo
Assistant Instructor
Joined May 2024
Rising College Sophomore
Georgia Tech
Industrial Engineering
Kallie Ott
Assistant Instructor
Joined May 2024
Rising College Freshman
University of Alabama Birmingham
Biomedical Science
Payton Tanner
Assistant Instructor
Joined May 2024
Rising College Freshman
University of Georgia
Animal Health
Lexi Wagner
Assistant Instructor
Joined May 2024
Rising College Freshman
Georgia Southern
Wildlife & Animal Ecology
Kaiya Hall
Assistant Instructor
Joined April 2025
Rising College Freshman
Howard University
Public Relations