Danny Hernandez

With 22 years of experience in education, I have dedicated my career to mentoring students in mathematics, engineering, and emerging technologies. For seven years, I served on the St. Vrain Valley School District Robotics Leadership Team, where I supported and guided more than 100 competitive robotics teams. Under this leadership, teams consistently earned top placements at state-level competitions and on the global stage, including the VEX Robotics World Championships. I spent ten years as a robotics educator at Westview Middle School in Longmont, Colorado, where I developed and taught programs in VEX Robotics, Python programming, and technology exploration. This work emphasized both theoretical understanding and hands-on application, helping students build strong technical foundations while developing problem-solving, teamwork, and engineering design skills. In the fall of 2023, I transitioned to the Innovation Center as a UAS Drone Instructor, working exclusively with high school students. In this role, I focus on preparing students for real-world employment by teaching professional drone operations and foundational aeronautics. Students gain hands-on experience using camera, thermal, and LiDAR drone systems while completing authentic projects on real job sites for local companies in Longmont. This approach ensures students are not only learning technical skills, but also applying them in professional contexts that mirror industry expectations. In the spring of 2024, I led the creation of the Drone Performance Team, the first drone show program in the world operated entirely by high school students. Through partnerships with Firefly Drone Systems and Brightflight Drone Shows, students across the district now have the opportunity to design, animate, plan, and execute large-scale drone performances. This program integrates aviation safety, FAA-aligned procedures, project management, creative design, and client communication. Together, these experiences reflect my commitment to building authentic, career-connected learning pathways. By connecting students with industry professionals and real-world applications, I strive to equip them with the technical expertise, confidence, and professional skills needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving fields of robotics, aerospace, and drone technology.