By Gwen Davis

In some schools, K-12 students are using computers that are five years old. However, the apps on their iPhones update themselves every two weeks. The schools’ math curriculum needs four years to accommodate changes. But the tech industry completely reinvests how we live life within six months. Basically, the pace of technology has far exceeded the schools’ ability to teach computer skills at a meaningful, 21st-century level. What is one to do?

That is what West Seattle resident Kevin Brown has been thinking about for a long time.

“I studied the issue of how schools aren’t successful with teaching more than just how to use a computer,” Brown said. “They are used to being taught keyboarding and how to use PowerPoint, but they are not taught computer science programming.”

Which is why Brown will open the Seattle App Academy in West Seattle at Jefferson Square on Sept. 16 which will provide students in grades 4-8 with instruction on how to do computer programming, robotics and electronics. The academy will also offer classes on entrepreneurship

However, this is not an entirely new thing. Last year, Brown developed a pilot program for 5th graders at Lafayette Elementary to teach kids meaningful tech skills. It was a hit.

“At Lafayette, I tried to understand why the schools can’t teach tech,” Brown said. “The issue is the schools are structurally unable to address this problem. Technology is moving so quickly. It moves in six-month increments. How it works now will be completely different in six months. We use so many apps that didn’t even exist last year.”

“When the schools use a new math curriculum, it takes two to three years to study the issue,” he said. “A lot of smart people with a lot of dedication make the decisions, and then it takes two more years to implement the program.”

But this style doesn’t work anymore.

“This is a hard problem for the schools,” Brown said. “How are we going to teach kids these skills they’ll need to be successful in the 21st century?”

Seattle App Academy is an all-volunteer organization. Tuition is $200 for an eight-week class. Classes meet once a week after school. Brown said he eventually wants to introduce scholarships for students who can’t afford that.

Brown has 30+ years of experience in the software industry, and is a wine maker, with wineries in Seattle and Lake Chelan.

Currently, the academy has enrolled roughly 43 students, with a goal of 60 by the start of the session.

“We found a really beautiful space and have 30 touch-screen, state-of the-art computers with Windows 8,” he said. Brown donated all the computers and the money for the building himself.

“It’s an idea I’ve been kicking around a while, after being in the computer industry and the father of five kids,” Brown said.

“Last year, I went to Lafayette and asked ‘What do you think of me teaching a computer program to your 5th graders after school?’ They said that’s a terrific idea.”

Brown taught computer programming to roughly 70 kids last year. They were fast learners, he said.

“I had parents and teachers contact me, ‘Hey could you come to our school and do it here to our 4th graders or middle school-ers?” he said. “But I can’t be in five places at one time.”

Brown then decided to take the pilot program model and make it into a full-blown academy.

When designing the academy, Brown initially had the same problem that the schools have – how was he going to pay for talented teachers? He wanted tuition to be affordable – the same type of tuition required for music or dance lessons.

“And that’s when I thought, why don’t we use the Girl or Boy Scout volunteer model?”

The teachers, now called “coaches” are volunteers, primarily parents with an engineering background.

“Our coaches come from all walks of life,” Brown said. “They are men and women who usually have jobs in technology who are volunteering their time.”

The academy now has a dozen coaches, including Brown who is the head coach.

There will be different levels for different ages. Brown wants to eventually offer classes every evening of the week, and throughout the summer.

However, due of the nature of young people, certain kinks will have to be worked out.

“One of the challenges when you’re teaching kids is you can’t put 4th graders with 12th graders, even if they’re at the same level,” he said. “From a maturity standpoint, we have to be sensitive to that.”

Brown is connected to the Lafayette PTSA, and will continue to engage the group with email newsletters, meetings and presentations.

“As I see it, in three to four years the kids can flip burgers for minimum wage, or work at Microsoft for 40 dollars an hour. The future for them won’t be the same as what he had. They will have different options,” Brown said.

“Obama says this all the time,” Brown continued. “How are we going to prepare our kids to take care of all our technology needs? The Seattle App Academy can move fast when stuff comes out, and we can teach. We don’t need committees with three to five year cycles.”