#PeopleofSTEAM: Meet Ryan

Meet Ryan, a robotics instructor, FIRST^® alum, and Inspire the Future cohort member*. An alum of FIRST^® LEGO^® League and FIRST^® Robotics Competition Team 4541, “The Cavineers,” Ryan attributes his success to the STEM skills he learned through his FIRST experience. Now he is passing his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of STEM leaders: Ryan encourages all students to always feel empowered to share their ideas, even if they are the youngest one in the room. 

Keep reading to learn more about Ryan and the important work he is doing to encourage future innovators to learn new skills, communicate, and charge forward with confidence. 

*To nominate an educator or school as part of the Inspire the Future Recognition Program, click the button below. 

FIRST Staff: Can you share some information about your current role at your school?  

Ryan: I am primarily the middle school robotics coach at a school in Rockville, Maryland. I run our middle school robotics program, support our high school robotics team, and help plan and manage the handful of robotics events we host throughout the year. I also occasionally serve as a substitute teacher. My role blends coaching, logistics, mentoring, and technical instruction to provide students with enriching hands-on learning experiences rooted in STEAM. 

FIRST Staff: What is your favorite part of your current role as the robotics coach at your school?  

Ryan: Helping my students build independence and take ownership of their work in ways they may not get to in traditional classroom settings. Encouraging them to “fail forward” and watching them persist through challenges is incredibly rewarding. It is powerful to see students develop confidence, technical skills, and resilience not because I gave them the answers, but because they discovered their own ability to find them.  

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

Ryan: As an educator, you want to give your students as much help and information as possible, however, teaching them everything directly would be doing my students a disservice. Finding ways to provide the tools for learning without giving what I feel to be the answer is key to running a successful program though it can be tempting to get more involved.  

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

Ryan: As a STEAM educator, both hard and soft skills are essential. I regularly use programming, computer-aided design, and engineering design in my work with students. Outside of the classroom, I am an avid 3D printing and software development hobbyist, constantly learning and building. Communication, project management, and collaboration are just as critical. They are what help turn great ideas into meaningful outcomes, both in my teaching and my personal projects.  

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

Ryan: This past school year, I was an active mentor for six FIRST LEGO League teams and was also involved with a FIRST Robotics Competition team which allowed me to be a source of support for dozens of students of various ages. I also hosted a handful of robotics events as well as volunteering with local organizations throughout the year, providing access to memorable STEAM experiences to hundreds of students. Building on this, I am the director of a non-profit organization called STEM Space to help increase access to STEAM learning opportunities in my region.  

All these activities are not just work for me. I genuinely enjoy and take pride in being part of something larger and more important than myself and my immediate community.  

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

Ryan: My high school engineering teacher, Amy Brunner, has had a substantial impact on my identity and advancement in STEAM. She facilitated the environment where I not only learned useful technical skills, but also taught me how to communicate, learn, and be a team player in my community.  

Ryan with his FIRST Robotics Competition Team, “The Cavineers.” 

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

Ryan: A piece of advice I wish I had received is that no one is “too young” to do the “real thing,” whatever that may be. People can accomplish a great deal regardless of age. Being the first or the youngest in the room can feel uncomfortable, but discomfort is often where you can have the most impact. You do not need to wait to be older or more experienced; what you are doing now can be meaningful. You are capable of making a difference right where you are.  

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

Ryan: It is important to take the FIRST ethos seriously. Being gracious to your competitors and cooperating with others with professionalism is the key to being successful in life. Gracious Professionalism^® and Coopertition^® are not just part of the game; they are habits that will shape how you work with others, solve problems, and make an impact in the real world. 

Are you a person of STEAM? Share your story with #PeopleofSTEAM on social media or send us your story at marketing@firstinspires.org.