Staff Spotlight: Bob Richards’ STEM projects promote hands-on learning for Stockbridge students
Bob Richards, Stockbridge Junior / Senior High School business/ technology teacher. Photo provided by Bob Richards.
by Amy Haggerty
As the Business Technology teacher since 2002, Bob Richards has put Stockbridge Junior/Senior High School on the map with his work developing STEM students.
Over the years, Richards has developed many projects that expose students to subjects in the STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to engage them in learning with a more hands-on approach to their projects.
Richards has educated the next generation of explorers, engineers, and entrepreneurs in our community through his work with students in grades seven through twelve. He will be teaching two new classes this school year: the Makerspace class (focusing on making solutions to technical problems) and Hackerspace class. Students will learn about electronics and computer programming as they build a small laptop and environmental sensors.
A past Stockbridge graduate, Richards attended Davenport College for his degree in business administration, Central Michigan University to earn a graduate certificate in health services administration, and Eastern Michigan University where he obtained his teaching certificate in business and marketing education.
He married his wife, Judy, who is also a Stockbridge High School graduate. They have been married for 35 years. There’s no denying their solid Stockbridge roots—the couple’s two children also attended and graduated from Stockbridge High School! Matthew graduated in 2008 and Erin graduated in 2009.
Throughout the years Richards’ students have had opportunities to work on projects and travel the world with their ROVs (remote operated vehicles), as part of the Robotics Team representing Stockbridge Community Schools. His students have competed in competitions hosted by NOAA, MIT, and NASA.
Under his leadership, the team has traveled to Palau several times with their BentProp to search for missing American airmen and aircraft from WW2. In recent years, the students have traveled to American Samoa to work and introduce Samoan students to ROVs.
Bob Richards demonstrates student equipment for a water search. Photo provided by Bob Richards.
This school year, Richards students will be working on projects to prepare them for the future.
“The first project is miniature satellites called CubeSatellites or Cubesats. These satellites have been used exclusively in low Earth orbit for twenty years and are using remote sensing communications for interplanetary missions,” Richards explains.
In a special lab later in the school year, students are planning on launching into space the CubeSatellites they have built.
The second project is the high-altitude balloons project. Students are planning on conducting at least two balloon launches this school year.
Says Richards, “These balloons are similar to weather balloons filled with helium that are released into the stratosphere, generally attaining an altitude between 11 and 23 miles or 59,000 to 121,000 feet above sea level. Our balloons will be used as a platform for experiments in the upper atmosphere to test our CubeSatellites”
The balloons contain electronic equipment such as cameras and radio transmitters and navigation systems such as GPS receivers. Students are hoping to launch the balloons in 2024 during the next solar eclipse.
The last project will involve mini-boats. These boats will be about five feet long with satellite transmitters that enable students to track lake currents and weather on the Great Lakes.
Richards gives the following advice to his current and future students: “Follow your passion and take advantage of opportunities.”
Having Richards and his innovative classes in our district have enabled our students to experience advanced educational experiences. They are learning real-life skills that enable them to work through complex problems, gain advanced computer knowledge, and develop creative-thinking skills.
