Meet our Mentors!
James Gillespie
Mentor / Teacher
Years in Robotics: 10
Roles:
Head Coach for VEX Robotics (9th-12th grades)
Honors:
Mentor / Teacher
Years in Robotics: 10
Roles:
Head Coach for VEX Robotics (9th-12th grades)
Honors:
- 2013 - FRC - Woodie Flower Finalist Award Winner at Virginia regional
- 2012 - VEX - Teacher of the Year Winner at Roboticon
- Taught at Osbourn Park High School for 10 years
- Taught computer science and math
- Head for all Robotics programs at OP for 7 years
- BS in Mathematics & Computer Science from Bridgewater College
- Master in Secondary Education from George Mason University
- Involved in the VEX Program for 7 years
- Involved in the FRC Program for 7 years
- Started 2 FRC programs, one for OP, one for all of Prince William County
- Involved in the ZERO Robotics program for 3 years
- Involved in the Mini Urban Challenge program for 3 years
- Involved in the SeaPerch Underwater Robotics program for 4 years
- Have led multiple programming workshops for VEX
- Helped design curriculum for 8th grade tech ed class across all of PrinceWilliamCounty to use VEX
- Helped design a T-Shirt Cannon to use for spreading the inspiration of FIRST and VEX
- Judge SeaPerch, underwater Robotics
- Hosted the NOVA VEX Robotics Competition for 5 years
- Host the Robot Rally, off season VEX event for 3 years
- Helped mentor numerous of middle school VEX teams
- Helped mentor numerous elementary school FLL teams
- Created curriculum used in 3 different robotics summer camps
- Have run countless demos for both FRC and VEX
Mary Muldowney Jarratt
Mentor / Teacher
Years in Robotics: 9
Roles:
Coach for 6th grade robotics - First Lego League
Coach for Intermediate School (7th & 8th grade) robotics - Vex IQ
Coach for Upper School (9th-12th grade) robotics - Vex
Experience:
Mentor / Teacher
Years in Robotics: 9
Roles:
Coach for 6th grade robotics - First Lego League
Coach for Intermediate School (7th & 8th grade) robotics - Vex IQ
Coach for Upper School (9th-12th grade) robotics - Vex
Experience:
- Founder of McLean Robotics Institute
- Teaches Robotics at Potomac School’s ETC after-school programming (2012 to present)
- Created curriculum for and teaches Robotics at Potomac’s Summer Camp programs (2012 to present)
- Co-developed and teaches “Engineering is Exciting” and/or Robotics curriculum for Potomac School’s Lower & Middle schools (2013 to present)
- Coached eight robotics teams to the Virginia or Maryland FLL regional tournaments; multiple teams competing in the State FLL championship
- Served as Judge at the Virginia State FLL Championship and VEX Regional Tournament (2012 to present)
- Founded a non-profit, educational company that taught after-school robotics programs in public or private schools in Fairfax County, VA
- Substitute teacher for multiple private schools in Northern Virginia, including Potomac’s Lower & Middle Schools (1999 to present)
- Systems Engineer for Texas Instruments and Chicago Board Options Exchange (8 years); Systems & Application Programmer for small business (2 years)
- Community Ambassador & volunteer for the Children’s Science Center
- BA degree in Business Administration, with Minor in Computer Science
- Earned a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, concentrating on Integrative STEM Education
at Virginia Technology - Appointed to the STEM Advisory committee of the Children's Science Center
- A member of American Association of Women (AAUW)
- A member of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
- A member of Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Matt Rheinstein
Mentor
Years in Robotics: 8
Roles:
Coach for Upper School (9th-12th grade) robotics - Vex
Experience:
Mentor
Years in Robotics: 8
Roles:
Coach for Upper School (9th-12th grade) robotics - Vex
Experience:
- Qualified for Vex worlds during his sophomore year in high school
- Member of a Vex U team
- Qualified for Vex U worlds multiple times
- Won the design award twice at worlds
- Majors in Electrical Engineering at George Mason University
Oscar McCullough
Mentor
Years in Robotics: 9
Roles:
Coach for Upper School (9th-12th grade) robotics - Vex
Honors:
Mentor
Years in Robotics: 9
Roles:
Coach for Upper School (9th-12th grade) robotics - Vex
Honors:
- 2015: “Mentor Of The Year Award ”
- Member of a Vex U team
- Qualified for Vex U worlds multiple times
- Won the design award twice at worlds
- Coaches Vex and Vex IQ at Grahm Park Middle School
Greg Mueller
Mentor / Teacher
Years in Robotics: 13
Roles:
Coach for Intermediate School (7th & 8th grade) robotics - Vex IQ
Honors:
Mentor / Teacher
Years in Robotics: 13
Roles:
Coach for Intermediate School (7th & 8th grade) robotics - Vex IQ
Honors:
- 2017: “Mentor Of The Year Award ” Greg Mueller at Virginia State Championship - Crossover Middle School Division
- Coached eight robotics teams to the 2017 Virginia State Championship VEX IQ Crossover
- Presenter 2017 Future of Education Technology Conference Orlando, FL
- Teach IS Robotics at Potomac School’s ETC after-school programming (2016 to present)
- Teach 7th Grade Science in Potomac School's IS Division (2011 to present)
- Taught 4th and 5th Grade Science in Potomac School's MS Division (2000 to 2011)
- Taught MS Robotics at Potomac School's ETC after-school programming(2010 to 2011)
- Developed and taught Robotics curriculum to 5th Grade Potomac School students (2001 to 2012)
- Created and taught curriculum for Robotics at Potomac’s Summer Camp programs (2001 to 2006)
- Taught Environmental Science with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (1999-2000)
- Taught 7th and 8th Grade Science Spotsylvania CO Schools, VA (1997 to 1999)
- Taught 7th and 8th Grade Science Cabarrus CO Schools, NC (1995 to 1997)