STEM SCHOOL ROBOTICS

Mission Statement

To create a sustainable program to invigorate and attract STEM learners of all levels and to incorporate the ideals of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a community-based, meaningful way. Collaboration, communication, and hard work through competitive robotics add to the ideals of STEM to invoke and enhance an interest in various STEM-related fields.

Who We Are

STEM School Pythons are proud to be an up and coming REC foundation VEX Robotics competitive program. Our first competitive season was in '21-'22. We started with 5 diverse teams that earned 3 Judges' Awards and have 2 teams qualify to compete at the State level. We have grown to 9 teams in '24-'25 and have started our own Tournament. Check out the coverage of the tournament from the Channel 3 news. We continue to earn awards and compete at the State level. I can't wait to see what we will do this year.

About Vex Competitive Robotics

Hundreds Compete in Robotics Tournaments at Chattanooga State

How does Robotics help students grow as individuals?

Students learn much more than how to build or code a robot. They are acquiring skills that are essential for any future employee: critical thinking, innovation, and collaboration. Let me walk you through some of the ways our robotics program fosters these skills.

When students are building robots, they are also:

Analyzing their end goal and adapting to those needs
Documenting their engineering design process and ideas
Researching multiple aspects to improve
Debating professionally on the best plan of action

When students are coding robots, they are also:

Testing, evaluating, changing, testing, evaluating, changing…
Discussing their methodology with others
Creating multiple versions to switch to depending on teammates' strengths and weaknesses
Debugging code by thinking through each step and examining the logistics

When students are driving robots, they are also:

Strategizing with partners before the game begins
Making split-second decisions
Evaluating the best course of action
Listening to teammate suggestions

When students are at competitions, they are also:

Explaining their ideas and process to judges during interviews
Managing time to complete skills challenges and competitions
Working with diverse groups as they get a new partner each game
Networking with other teams to create the best partner dynamics for the final competition