Educators who mentor students in robotics earn provincial recognition

Two educators from Rainbow Schools who mentor students in robotics have earned provincial recognition. Yana Bauer of Manitoulin Secondary School and Dan Monti of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School were selected by FIRST Canada as the recipients of the 2024 Ontario Woodie Flowers Finalist Award at the FIRST Robotics Provincial Championships in Mississauga in early April.

The Woodie Flowers Finalist Award celebrates effective communication in the art and science of engineering and design. The educators were nominated by their respective student teams who wrote essays about their impact and influence. The educators are now eligible to win the award at the World Championships if nominated again in future years.

“The provincial recognition speaks highly of their respective roles as mentors and motivators, ensuring students have every opportunity to gain hands-on experience in STEM fields, such as robotics,” said Bruce Bourget, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board.  “We extend our thanks to both educators for their leadership and continued commitment.”

The Woodie Flowers Finalist Award recognizes individuals who have done an outstanding job of motivation through communication while also challenging students to be clear and succinct in their communications. As such, it is very important that this be a student-led effort and decision.

Woodie Flowers was a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His specialty areas were engineering design and product development. Woodie Flowers co-created For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), the youth organization that leads the robotics competitions and other challenges for students.

Student Voice – About Yana Bauer

“Ms. Bauer’s uniquely large skill set gives rural Manitoulin youth a chance to explore STEAM. With Yana Bauer, possibility meets determination, showcasing the limitless possibilities that mentorship, communication, and teamwork can achieve.”  Alex Wilson-Zegil, Team 6865 Captain, Manitoulin Metal

15,000 people across 2,766km2. Numerically, this is how far the impact of our lead mentor, Yana Bauer, has reached. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and unforgettable personality has rallied support from 100 per cent of communities on Manitoulin, giving Team 6865 a tight-knit support system.

“Ms. Yana Bauer’s contagious, unflagging energy and determination inspires others to believe in possibility, the possibility that a small Northern Ontario island robotics team can make it on the world stage. She is a role model of gracious professionalism and what we as mentors strive to emulate” – Nancy Dewar-Stenning, Mentor of FRC 1305.

For nine years, Ms. Bauer helped us conquer countless challenges. With her support, 6865 submitted for the Impact Award in 2021. One year later, we qualified with Impact for the World Championship.

“She is selfless and helps everyone before herself. She helped myself and others acquire passports in a week so we could experience Worlds.” – Alexis McVey, member since 2022.

Despite the uncertainty, Ms. Bauer celebrates each achievement. She taught us to be proud of every step of our journey, whether it be repairing the robot, scouting, or winning Impact finalists.

In 2022, when our only Build Team mentor stepped down, it left us wondering if robotics would continue. Without hesitating, Ms. Bauer adapted to fill this void.

“Yana Bauer has transformed into an incredible aid in the shop. She has learned all the required skills to be able to teach others how to assemble a competition-worthy robot.” – Ben Willis, member since 2019.

She learned pneumatics and swerve drive mechanics with the sole purpose of supporting students’ interest. In our off season, she works to support team members’ fundraising and community projects, from supervising students at local fairs, showing members how to teach code, volunteering her yard for a Halloween fundraiser, and promoting 6865. Her advocacy secured a practice field space, allowing our team to compete on a higher level.

Ms. Bauer’s belief in 6865 drives us to push for the impossible – but with a plan. With her guidance, we developed work plans and skills passports to ensure that all members have the knowledge to succeed. She facilitates members to organize team socials that allow members to become confident with FIRST robotics.

“Ms. Bauer helped me find my voice so I could emcee at an FTC event. Her positivity is contagious.” – Nevaeh Harper, member since 2021.

Student Voice – About Dan Monti

“Daniel Monti is the heart of Lo-Ellen Robotics and we are all extremely grateful that his efforts were recognized by the Woodie Flowers Award.” – Team 4069, Lo-Ellen Robotics

Daniel Monti, founder and lead mentor of Lo-Ellen Robotics Team 4069, pioneered and fosters a unique and thriving robotics community in the Greater Sudbury area. Since 2012, Dan Monti has been motivating students, teachers and mentors to be better in all aspects of their lives – friendship, robotics, school, sports and communities.

In its first three years, Lo-Ellen Robotics qualified for World Championships yearly. However, in 2018, Dan Monti was unsatisfied with the lack of local opportunity for FIRST students to develop robotics skills for the team’s succession planning. He took initiative to renovate a room into an EDIT (Engineering, Design and Innovative Technology) Lab.

He developed a new EDIT curriculum, and set up the lab with the essentials to succeed. The EDIT lab has flourished into a technologically and mechanically advanced space where all students thrive. Since then, Dan Monti has developed four courses, competed in 12 FRC (First Robotics Challenge) seasons, built 23 FTC (First Tech Challenge) robots, organized three FTC (First Tech Challenge) Tournaments, and passed 600 students through EDIT classes.

However, the technical success of the EDIT/ FTC/ FRC program is not Dan Monti’s greatest achievement. It’s the influence of his leadership on his students, fellow teachers, mentors, and community. Dan Monti’s leadership approach ensures the EDIT program is student driven.

His “fail faster” motto is the keystone to the program’s success. He creates a space where students are encouraged to fail as much as possible, emphasizing failure is where influential learning takes place. This creates an environment where students feel empowered and valued, even when they try something that doesn’t work. This supportive environment contributes to the feeling that everyone is welcome in the EDIT lab, even those without prior robotics experience.

Dan Monti believes that the best decisions are made in a diverse environment, and actively recruits girls to participate in our program. The recruitment effort yielded 50 per cent of the FTC team student lead roles held by female students. Although a large percentage of students move outside Sudbury to further their education, Dan Monti’s students return to FIRST as mentors, volunteers and referees.

In 2023, the Lo-Ellen EDIT program had a staggering eight FTC teams, each with a senior student lead. This is the largest program in Ontario. Dan Monti is sought out by other FTC/FRC teams to provide advice and assistance. Dan Monti understands how hard starting can be, and prioritizes helping teams with fewer resources by sharing resources, materials and transportation.

Dan Monti brings out the best in everyone he meets, inspiring them to chase their dreams. The foundations he has built and continues to grow impacts his students, who benefit from his mentorship for the rest of their lives. Team 4069’s students feel strongly that Daniel Monti exemplifies a Woodie Flowers award winner, and feel lucky to have him as their lead mentor.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.