STEM Heroes

In this episode of the STEM Heroes podcast, host David Young talks with Keith Pritchett, a former Army helicopter pilot turned JROTC high school instructor in Alabama. Keith shares his fascinating background, including 26 years in the Army where he worked as an air traffic controller before becoming a helicopter pilot and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After retiring from the military, Keith became a JROTC instructor to continue mentoring and teaching youth. When Alabama provided funding for STEM education initiatives focused on computers or drones, Keith opted to integrate drones into his JROTC program. He found Drone Launch Academy to help teach his cadets to obtain their commercial drone pilot license (Part 107).

Keith discusses how he incorporated the drone curriculum into his leadership lab classes, teaching topics like airspace, regulations and emergency procedures. He shares entertaining stories of his cadets' "aha" moments when complex concepts clicked. So far, eight of Keith's students have passed the Part 107 exam.

Looking ahead, Keith plans to expand into drone mapping and have students use drones for tasks like monitoring parking lots during events. He even dreams of using drone mapping along with the school's robotics program to automatically paint parking lot lines! Tune in to hear this inspiring educator's innovative vision for using drones to prepare students for STEM careers.

What is STEM Heroes?

Welcome to STEM Heroes, where we dive deep into the world of education, technology, and innovation.
Join us as we interview educators and STEM experts who are shaping the future with drones, robots, and cutting-edge technology.
Our goal is to showcase the endless possibilities that STEM offers for students, highlighting their achievements, success stories, and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

In each episode, we engage in casual conversations with our guests, exploring their backgrounds in education, what inspired them to focus on projects involving drones, robotics, or other STEM areas, and the most memorable STEM projects their students have worked on.
We also delve into the challenges they've faced in implementing STEM initiatives, how they overcame them, and the resources and tools they find most helpful for teaching STEM effectively.

Through our discussions, we uncover how educators integrate real-world applications and industry knowledge into their STEM curriculum, offering valuable insights and advice for fellow educators looking to incorporate more hands-on STEM experiences. We also discuss the future of STEM education, particularly in relation to drones, robotics, and emerging technologies, envisioning a world where students are empowered to become the next generation of STEM leaders.

Join us on STEM Heroes as we celebrate the heroes of STEM education and inspire the innovators of tomorrow!