Conversations with Ally Luo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ally Luo.

Hi Ally, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Seeds Academy began in 2018 as a personal dream between Richard and Ally. Coming from different professional backgrounds — Richard in technology and Ally in fine arts — we shared one belief: children should never have to choose between logic and creativity. We felt the future would belong to students who could think both analytically and artistically.

We started teaching from our home with just four students, working around our dining table and building lessons late into the night. What motivated us were the small but powerful moments — a shy student gaining confidence while presenting a coding project, or a child proudly holding their first handmade ceramic piece. Those moments reminded us that education is about helping children discover who they are, not just what they can do.

Over time, word spread and our small home program grew into a full academy now serving more than 300 students, offering coding, robotics, art, and ceramics. One of our proudest recent milestones was watching our VEX IQ robotics team break the Southern California scoring record — a moment that reflected years of teamwork, perseverance, and student-driven growth.

Seeds Academy has always been deeply personal to us. As educators and parents, we believe when children are given creativity, guidance, and encouragement, even the smallest seeds can grow into something extraordinary.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey was far from easy. During our first year, the building we rented suddenly collapsed, and we had to quickly find new spaces and move our classes several times. It was frightening and overwhelming, but the trust and support from our students and families helped us push forward.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)- Animation (MFA)
Work Has Been Exhibited in 8 Countries for 16 International Awards
Interviewed by KCET TV at US (2010) and Beijing TV (2006)
Published Author and Illustrator of 5 Comic Books in China

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be passionate about what you do, and cherish every moment along the journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.seedsacademyus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedsacademy_codingrobo/

Image Credits
Sijia Luo
Seeds Academy