The buzz of excitement is unmistakable as you step into Jenny Gonzales’ 5th period robotics class at Marco Forster Middle School (MFMS). Students cluster around a tournament-style field, fine-tuning their robots for upcoming test matches. The classroom walls showcase robotics trophies from previous years, while stacks of VEX robotics kits collected and organized over the years stand testament to Gonzales’ dedicated tenure as the school’s robotics teacher.
What began as a competitive after-school team that reached the world championships two consecutive years has evolved into something much more significant. Now, Gonzales has added a formal robotics class to her other Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs including the CTE Investigation Labs and “the wheel,” engaging over 180 students annually. Jenny has made sure the students are armed with all of the skills necessary to succeed in high school and beyond.
“I often reference MIT’s curriculum to ensure that the material is relevant and aligned with collegiate standards,” Gonzales explains. “My program not only teaches the technical skills of engineering and programming but also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork – essential competencies for success in STEM fields.”
Her ultimate goal? “I want students to leave with increased confidence in their abilities, a recognition of their own talent, and the belief that they can achieve any goal they set for themselves.”
The program’s impact is evident in students like sixth-grader Jose, who serves as his team’s robot driver during competitions. Working collaboratively with his teammates, Jose has enhanced his robot with sophisticated features including additional clamping arms and a tilting mechanism to help navigate the competition field’s rough terrain. Each modification is purposeful, reflecting careful thought and engineering principles. Jose’s ambitions extend beyond middle school – he’s already planning to try out for the prestigious 5199 Robot Dolphins from Outer Space, CCA’s renowned high school robotics team.
Nearby, students Addy and Anoushka work diligently on their robot’s arm. “It takes a lot of patience and imagination to design the robot,” they share, describing their journey of building from scratch through trial and error. Like Jose, Anoushka is interested in high school robotics after meeting the Robot Dolphin’s Outreach team, led by MFMS alumna Aiden Lindsey.
Aiden Lindsey exemplifies the program’s long-term impact. She began her journey in Mrs. Gonzales’ 6th grade wheel class before joining CUSD’s first all-girls middle school robotics team, run by Mrs. Gonzales. It was around this time she was chosen to represent Marco Forster’s STEAM programs at a distinct-wide STEAM night. While presenting, she was able to see the high school robotics team in action. She recalled “..seeing students actively prototype a shooter for large tennis balls [in real time] showed me that incredible things could be done by students just like me.”
Aiden has remained involved in CCA robotics programs throughout her middle school and high school career, competing on both Team 9271 and Team 5199. Now a senior and serving as the outreach lead for Team 5199, Aiden organizes community engagement events, including STEAM Nights and community parades.
“Mrs. Gonzales helped inspire my passion in STEAM and encouraged me to keep pursuing robotics.. I will always be grateful to her.” Aiden reflects. “The high school program has allowed me to grow and learn like no other, and I’ve gained invaluable skills in communication, leadership, and stress management.”
The success of MFMS’s robotics program highlights the effectiveness of CCA’s broader mission to support Career Technical Education throughout the Capistrano Unified School District. With CTE Investigation labs in all CUSD middle schools, CCA focuses on creating strong pathways from middle school to high school programs. This continuity is particularly evident in the high school robotics program, where along with Aiden, many of Gonzales’ former students continue their journey. The program offers a comprehensive 4-year robotics pathway–currently serving over 100 students with hands-on learning opportunities, mentorship, and participation in regional, national and international events. The after-school program welcomes high school students from both CUSD and LBUSD districts, ensuring broad access to these valuable educational opportunities. Aiden said of the high school instructor, Mr. Eves, “The entire team loves him for not only his experience and advice, but also his deep understanding that connection and education are the basis of success. It’s so incredible to have a teacher with so much real-world engineering experience so he can give us insight into what working in the field is really like.”
The CCA high school robotics teams have seen enormous success in this year’s pre-season, and students will soon showcase their skills once again at the upcoming Beach Blitz competition. Scheduled for November 2-3 at Capistrano Valley High School, this preseason tournament attracts schools nationwide, providing valuable competitive experience and setting the stage for the upcoming 2025 season. For more information on CCA’s robotics programs, visit marco forster.capousd.org, https://cca.capousd.org/ or https://robotdolphins.org/.