#PeopleofSTEAM: Meet Brian

Brian is a lifelong educator, dedicated to opening students up to the world of STEAM through robotics. A STEM teacher and FIRST^® mentor, Brian has been leveraging FIRST for almost 15 years to offer rigorous after-school robotics programming education. These efforts build on what students learn in the classroom through Project Lead the Way. Brian is a teacher at Temecula Preparatory School in Temecula, California where he has found a way to leverage both programs in harmony. 

FIRST and Project Lead the Way believe that all students, regardless of skill, background, or experience, have a place in STEM. Brian has found that utilizing both FIRST and Project Lead the Way allows students to learn fundamental STEM skills in the classroom that they can then apply in a very real way during their extracurriculars. It builds a lifelong love of STEM for students, changing future generations for the better. 

Brian is one of thousands of U.S. teachers and administrators who use these two programs together to engage and empower the next generation of STEM leaders and innovators. As a former athletic director, Brian understands the importance of developing STEAM skills, while also fostering Gracious Professionalism^® in a competitive environment. Keep reading to learn about the impact Brian is making on students. 

FIRST Staff: What is your favorite part of being an educator? 

Brian: I love seeing how my work helps shape well-rounded, successful students who are ready to build a better future through innovation and empathy. Educators have an incredible opportunity – and responsibility – to help shape young minds. It is not only about developing academic skills but also fostering respect for others. Doing so means we ultimately send accomplished adults into the world who can use STEM to positively impact on society. 

Brian instructing his students in FIRST^®  Tech Challenge.

FIRST Staff: What is the hardest part of your job? 

Brian: It can be intimidating to start the process of getting administrator and parent buy-in for robotics, but it only requires a little momentum before people see the value and it takes off – that is a testament to the strength of the program. I have now led FIRST programs at five schools, and once you have helped administrators and parents understand how youth robotics builds identity, community, STEM rigor, and student interest, you are ready to go.  

I am a former athletic director and try to treat the addition of robotics like one would a new sports team, and there is a lot to be said for leveraging relationships with school counselors and parents to encourage engagement and support. All that said, sometimes, it just takes bringing someone to an event and seeing FIRST in action. It is hard not to get excited about it that way.  

FIRST Staff: How do you use STEAM skills in your everyday life?   

Brian: I use my STEAM skills daily through teaching Project Lead the Way curriculum in the classroom and leading our FIRST teams after school. I also focus on the FIRST Core Values of Coopertition^® and Gracious Professionalism. By demonstrating these values and setting them as the standard, my students build the skills they need to be positive members of their community and work toward a brighter future.  

FIRST Staff: Can you share your thoughts on the impact of your personal/professional work in STEAM?  

Brian: My role is to help students recognize their own potential through STEM. To be honest, STEM is hard! My charges are to show students they are capable of doing tough things and help them visualize all the ways robotics can set them up for the workforce and whatever else comes next.  

By implementing Project Lead the Way and supplementing that curriculum with FIRST, students are encouraged to invest more time innovating, using divergent thinking, and experiencing real-world application of STEM and business principles that can help support them in the future. 

Team Griffingears at the 2015 FIRST Championship.

FIRST Staff: Who is a “Person of STEAM” who inspires you?  

Brian: Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers have both inspired me through their passion and vision. I have witnessed firsthand how Dean empowers young people to strive for greatness, seizing every opportunity to encourage students to push their limits and embrace challenges. His devotion to solving global problems is also an inspiration: his work on projects like the Slingshot to address clean water access demonstrates his commitment to channeling STEM into positive impact around the world.  

Woodie also deeply inspired me with the legacy he created. He set the standard for why we encourage students to use STEM to tackle complex problems: to support the best qualities of humanity, serve others selflessly, and treat everyone with respect. These values that he channeled, along with his emphasis on Gracious Professionalism, have transformed the way thousands of young people approach learning, teamwork, and life. 

FIRST Staff: If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? 

Brian: Use the same persistence, honesty, and dedication you found in training as an athlete to seek mentors and solve difficult and innovative problems that can help save the world. Above all, value yourself and those you care about, and remember everyone should be accepted; we need different perspectives to continue to solve complex problems and strive to create positive change in the world.  

FIRST Staff: Do you have a message you want to share for students who are participating in FIRST today? 

Brian: Professional success and personal growth go hand-in-hand, and carrying your FIRST Core Values with you throughout your life will help you build meaningful connections, create positive impact, and shape the world’s future.