Growing District Enrollment with Drones: San Diego Unified x Parks & Recreation​

Presented by Sarah Hillard, CTE and Science Teacher, Millennial Tech Middle School, San Diego Unified School District (CA); Abel Garnica, Recreation Services Supervisor, City of San Diego Parks and Recreation; and Adrienne White, VP of Marketing, Robolink Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features. Discover how a city partnership powered the Aerial Drone Competition to become an enrollment driver for Millennial Tech Middle School, one of San Diego Unified School District’s growing schools.​ This edWebinar features two pioneers of middle and high school drone programs in San Diego: CTE Teacher Sarah Hillard and Abel Garnica from San Diego Parks and Recreation. Together, they will outline what it takes to launch and sustain a successful drone competition program. You’ll hear how drone flight immediately engages students (no building required), why drone competitions are uniquely equitable (results depend on student effort, not budget), and how a partnership can solve problems some schools can’t crack on their own: space, staffing, and long-term sustainability.​ You will leave with a flight plan for your own drone program, covering: Plus: You’ll get the contact info for the RECF Aerial Drone Competition support manager in your region, who can help with grants for new drone teams.​ This edWebinar will be of interest to K-12 district leaders, principals, STEM coordinators, CTE directors, CS and STEM teachers, and afterschool program directors. Sarah Hillard has been a CTE and Science Teacher at Millennial Tech Middle School since 2013, giving her over a decade of experience inspiring students through hands-on STEM learning. She has led competitive drone and robotics teams that not only excel in competitions but also mentor younger students, collaborate with community partners, and use technology to solve authentic challenges. As a Department of Defense STEM Ambassador (2024–2025), Sarah expanded access to STEM opportunities, connecting classrooms with real-world applications that prepare students for college and career pathways. Sarah was also honored as the RECF Western Region Middle School Coach of the Year in 2024. ​Abel Garnica is the Recreation Lead at the City of San Diego, where he develops programs in emerging technology and youth development. He brings innovative STEM programs to life, empowering participants with hands-on skills in drone operation, teamwork, and technical problem-solving. As a Regional Support Specialist for RECF, Abel also supports Aerial Drone Competition events throughout the western United States.​ Adrienne White is the Director of Marketing at Robolink, where she oversees brand, product, and content marketing and helps students’ futures take flight from classrooms to the Aerial Drone Competition. Formerly at Quizizz and Ozobot, Adrienne is passionate about growing educational technology brands with big missions and supporting communities of STEM and CTE educators. Learn more about