OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS
UPDATE OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS Kelly Roberts Vex IQ Teacher of the Year C.E. Hanna Elementary received exciting news when Mrs. Kelly Roberts was chosen as the Vex IQ Teacher of the year. Mrs. Roberts has coached the C.E. Hanna Robotics team for the past three years, winning more than fifty awards and quickly filling the C.E. Hanna trophy case. The C.E. Hanna Robotics teams have become a force to be reckoned with as they have gained a reputation for excellence. Rarely do they enter a competition where one or more of their teams are not able to finish at the top.
Under Mrs. Roberts’s direction, this year’s seven robotics teams compiled an impressive list of accomplishments; their season was cut short by the pandemic, but they were able to compete in six events during the regular season. In skills competitions, the teams earned nine first place finishes, eight second place finishes, five third place finishes, two fourth place finishes, and three fifth place finishes. They earned numerous top ten finishes in the teamwork competition. In coding, the teams were able to earn five first place finishes, four second place finishes, four third place finishes, four fourth place finishes and five fifth place finishes.
Vex IQ robotics is a design and engineering challenge for students. Each year a new challenge is announced, and students design robots based on that challenge. During the year, students compete in both remote-control games and coding challenges where students code the robots to operate autonomously to complete challenges. They continuously fine tune their designs as they compete, striving to create the most successful version of their robots.
During the state championship in Auburn, Alabama, three teams qualified for world competitions. The CEH Galaxy Allstars won the state teamwork championship, while the CEH Raging Fireballs finished second. The CEH Galaxy Allstars also added a fourth place finish in the skills competition. The teams had high hopes for national and world competitions, hoping to avenge last year’s loss in the finals of the national competition.
In addition to teaching coding and engineering skills to the team, Mrs. Roberts has also instilled the traits of integrity, determination, perseverance, compassion, and teamwork. Among their many accomplishments this year, perhaps most notable is the fact that other teams commented on C.E. Hanna’s willingness to assist younger teams, sharing ideas and tips for success.
The students’ accomplishments in coding, engineering, and teamwork under the leadership of Mrs. Roberts have been impressive; she is an asset to Oxford City Schools and well-deserving of the Vex IQ Teacher of the Year award.
BY DR. GOODWIN
OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | 2020
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