Kathy Shionis, School Administrator
"Maximilian Goetz brought his innovative class, Robotics for All, to the Mariano Castro Elementary School during the school year, 2017-2018.
Our Title 1 students are rarely afforded such opportunities and were thrilled to be able to participate in the class week after week. Max and his workers always came prepared with materials, as well as enthusiasm, every time they walked through the door! Each instructor had a depth of knowledge of coding and was trained by Max himself. Max had a way with the students and created icebreakers to better acquaint himself with the kids at the beginning of each class. He and his team were able to teach students at all levels of knowledge. Step by step, the kids were able to complete more and more difficult tasks. The highlight was racing each students’ team’s programmed car through a series of obstacles and trying to earn as many points as possible. I thank Max for his superb attitude and commitment to Robotics for All."
Kathy Shionis
Former Instructional Coach
Mariano Castro Elementary
Our Title 1 students are rarely afforded such opportunities and were thrilled to be able to participate in the class week after week. Max and his workers always came prepared with materials, as well as enthusiasm, every time they walked through the door! Each instructor had a depth of knowledge of coding and was trained by Max himself. Max had a way with the students and created icebreakers to better acquaint himself with the kids at the beginning of each class. He and his team were able to teach students at all levels of knowledge. Step by step, the kids were able to complete more and more difficult tasks. The highlight was racing each students’ team’s programmed car through a series of obstacles and trying to earn as many points as possible. I thank Max for his superb attitude and commitment to Robotics for All."
Kathy Shionis
Former Instructional Coach
Mariano Castro Elementary
Jerry Pugh, Community Robotics Teacher
"I am a retired mechanical engineer. I have been teaching robotics to elementary school students for ten years using the Lego Mindstorms robotics kits. Most recently I have been teaching classes to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Monta Loma elementary in Mountain View since 2015. Max approached me in 2018 and offered the services of the Robotics for All team of Gunn High School volunteers to help teach the classes. So, in 2018 they taught a seven week series of classes to 2nd graders at Monta Loma. They also provided two volunteers to help me in the other series of classes I taught during the 2018-19 school year. The volunteers were a great help. Again in the 2019-20 school year they will be teaching a six week series of classes to 3rd graders focused on learning the use of sensors. They are also providing two volunteers to help me teach the other three series of classes at Monta Loma. I am very appreciative of the help Robotics for All has provided and feel confident that they can take over the task of teaching robotics at Monta Loma when I retire from volunteering."
