- September 6, 2024
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Hanna Cuervo, a Technology Student Association advisor at Robert E. Willis Elementary School, watched with pride as some of her students competed at the world VEX competition in April.
The competition gave her students the opportunity to meet students from around the world who all have a passion for robotics and coding.
“As a coach, these are memories that will last me a lifetime,” Cuervo said. “The team bonding and friendships that form are precious. Students are able to learn from more experienced teams and coaches that might give them even more motivation to pursue a future in engineering and technology.”
Over the years, Cuervo said Willis’ VEX teams have grown from two to six and TSA has expanded from 16 students to 24. Every year, the fourth graders are itching to get into fifth grade so they can be a part of TSA, she said.
“Each year, our program gets more attention for the fun, exciting competitions,” she said. “Once we start with a new group of students, they are often surprised at the level of commitment and work that is expected and required, but that’s when we see the biggest growth.”
Willis’ TSA and VEX teams are just two examples of how STEM programs within the School District of Manatee County have gained popularity.
Paul Gansemer, the executive director of adult, career and technical education, said the popularity among STEM programs is driven by the industry and how robotics is being used to help in automation and the creation of products and ideas.
“It’s the way our society is using technology and the way that it’s rolled out into our community,” Gansemer said. “It’s really sparked an interest with students to be a part of it.”
A large reason for the love of STEM is its hands-on applications, Gansemer said. Each elementary school has a STEM lab, and the STEM opportunities only increase when progressing through middle school and high school.
Cuervo said the skills her students gain in TSA are translated into their passions in middle school, whether they continue with TSA or decide to join other organizations such as FFA, Future Business Leaders of America or Health Occupations Students of America or others.
“It’s quite exhausting starting with fresh kids each year, but it’s worth it when we witness the maturity, passion, respect, teamwork and leadership that develop in each of these kids,” Cuervo said.
Students, depending on the school, have the opportunity to work with 3D printers, drones, animatronics, robots and more.
R. Dan Nolan Middle School is one of two schools in the district to have access to animatronics that give students a chance to work with robots as well as learn coding, videography, design and more. Students interested in art can also get involved through creating costumes and settings as well as writing scripts for the animatronics.
The VEX programs in Manatee County have only increased in elementary and middle schools. The first VEX robotics program started six years ago in a few elementary schools and has since made its way into at least 27 of the district’s 33 elementary schools.
The district hosted a district-wide VEX competition that had more than 180 teams competing, with some schools sending as many as six or seven teams to the competition.
With the success of many TSA programs and other STEM programs in the school district, many students have the opportunity to compete at the state, national and international level. It brings new opportunities to socialize with and learn from students across the world.
“(Students) see value in being able to stand next to or compete against another team who might not even speak English. They might not be able to communicate with each other, but they understand what it takes to be able to do that task,” Gansemer said.
No matter the type of STEM experience students might gain throughout their time in school, Gansemer said all students will develop skills in problem solving, teamwork, collaboration, leadership and others that will help them in their futures, regardless of whether they pursue a career in a STEM field.
Gansemer said the school district watches the tech industry to see what direction it’s taking next and how technology is being used differently.
“As a school district, we’re always looking for that innovative next step that we need to prepare the students so when they graduate, they’re able to go into those jobs,” he said.
