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Our Mentors

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James Gillespie

Mentor / Teacher

Years in Robotics: 10

Roles:
Head Coach for VEX Robotics (9th-12th grades)

Honors:

  • 2013 - FRC - Woodie Flower Finalist Award Winner at Virginia regional

  • 2012 - VEX - Teacher of the Year Winner at Roboticon


Experience:

  • Taught at Osbourn Park High School for 10 years

  • Taught computer science and math

  • Head for all Robotics programs at OP for 7 years

  • BS in Mathematics & Computer Science from Bridgewater College

  • Master in Secondary Education from George Mason University

  • Involved in the VEX Program for 7 years

  • Involved in the FRC Program for 7 years

  • Started 2 FRC programs, one for OP, one for all of Prince William County

  • Involved in the ZERO Robotics program for 3 years

  • Involved in the Mini Urban Challenge program for 3 years

  • Involved in the SeaPerch Underwater Robotics program for 4 years

  • Have led multiple programming workshops for VEX

  • Helped design curriculum for 8th grade tech ed class across all of PrinceWilliamCounty to use VEX

  • Helped design a T-Shirt Cannon to use for spreading the inspiration of FIRST and VEX

  • Judge SeaPerch, underwater Robotics

  • Hosted the NOVA VEX Robotics Competition for 5 years

  • Host the Robot Rally, off season VEX event for 3 years

  • Helped mentor numerous of middle school VEX teams

  • Helped mentor numerous elementary school FLL teams

  • Created curriculum used in 3 different robotics summer camps

  • Have run countless demos for both FRC and VEX

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Mary Muldowney Jarratt

Mentor/ Teacher

Years in Robotics: 6

Roles:
Co-Coach for 6th grade robotics
Assistant Coach for Intermediate School (7th & 8th grade) robotics
Assistant Coach for Upper School (9th-12th grade) robotics

Honors:

  • 2012:  “Inspire Award” at Maryland First Lego League (FLL) regional by Potomac’s 5th Grade Girls Team

  • 2012:  “Teamwork Award” at Maryland FLL regional by Potomac’s 6th Grade Girls team

  • 2013:  Potomac’s 6th Grade Team advances to Maryland FLL state championship

  • 2013: 2nd place award for robotic design and innovation

Experience:

  • Teaches Robotics at Potomac School’s ETC after-school programming (2012 to present)

  • Created curriculum for and teaches Robotics at Potomac’s Summer Camp programs (2012 to present)

  • Co-developed and teaches “Engineering is Exciting” and/or Robotics curriculum for Potomac School’s Lower & Middle schools (2013 to present)

  • Coached eight robotics teams to the Virginia or Maryland FLL regional tournaments; one team competing in Maryland State FLL championship

  • Served as Judge at the Virginia State FLL Championship and VEX Regional Tournament (2012 to present)

  • Founded a non-profit, educational company that taught after-school robotics programs in public or private schools in Fairfax County, VA

  • Substitute teacher for multiple private schools in Northern Virginia, including Potomac’s Lower & Middle Schools (1999 to present)

  • Systems Engineer for Texas Instruments and Chicago Board Options Exchange (8 years); Systems & Application Programmer for small business (2 years)

  • Community Ambassador & volunteer for the Children’s Science Center  

  • BA degree in Business Administration, with Minor in Computer Science

  • Currently earning a Masters of Arts in Education, with focus on Integrative STEM Education at Virginia Tech; Graduation: May 2015

  • Appointed to the STEM Advisory committee of the Children's Science Center

  • Currently a teacher for STEM Education at Children's Science Center

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