Robotics Coach

Description

Stratford Preparatory is hiring Robotics Team Coaches for the 2022-2023 School Year!

Who we are:

A coeducational private day school serving Grades 6-12, Stratford Preparatory builds on 22 years of creating outstanding educational outcomes for our students in Preschool to Grade 8 by expanding Stratford School’s mission through high school. We are excited to start this high school journey with the relocation of Stratford Raynor Middle School (Grades 6-8) to our new Blackford Avenue campus in San Jose and welcome our first class of high school students in Grade 9 in Fall 2022.

Stratford School’s purpose, “Connecting students to their unique futures,” reflects our commitment to show young people how they can successfully and independently develop the knowledge, skills, and depth of character they need to thrive in a transforming world. The school provides a rigorous and engaging college preparatory curriculum that focuses on real-world application of engineering, technology, and leadership skills, while also providing students opportunities to be confident learners, generous in spirit, and eager to follow their passions. 

Who we are looking for:

Stratford Preparatory is looking for a founding Robotics Team Head Coach who is looking for the challenge and flexibility of developing a new award-winning robotics program from the ground up. Stratford students are all high-achieving, motivated, and innovative students looking to grow and make an impact. Stratford is looking for a coach who can not only keep up but enhance student passion for robotics, and lead the team through the FIRST Robotic competitions and other events. 

By participating in Stratford Robotics, students will have a positive, growth-filled experience where they have the opportunity to mature mentally, emotionally, and socially. Through practice and competition, guided by seasoned coaches, students will build fundamental skills in engineering, design, and programming. 

We invite you to visit our website: https://www.stratfordpreparatory.com/

Primary Responsibilities of a Stratford Robotics Coach:

The primary responsibilities of the robotics coach include:

• Being committed to the well-being of students.
• Developing the Stratford Robotics program, maintaining quality coaching, and continuing to educate on best practices.
• Scheduling and organization of competitions.
• Training and enforcing the proper storage and safe usage of all equipment.
• Supervising and training students on the design, building, operation, and maintenance of the robot.
• Managing and keeping track of team finances and budgets.
• Developing a sense of responsibility, leadership, and ownership of the robotics program amongst students.
• Creating a cohesive and positive team spirit to support a safe and productive learning environment
• Fostering an innovative problem-solving culture.
• Seeking out mentors and industry experts to support the team.
• Serving as a positive role model for students.

The ideal candidate:

The ideal coaching candidate will have:

• Experience coaching robotics at the high school or college level
• A high school diploma or equivalent (Bachelor's degree encouraged)
• Prior participation, coaching experience, or a combination of the two in robotics
• Strong knowledge of robotics, including but not limited to knowledge of construction, engineering, metal and woodworking, programming, CNC routers, power tools, 3-D printers, laser cutters, computer vision, and electronics preferred.

Skills and Attributes:

The ideal coach will be able to: 

• Coach students of different ages and skill levels
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Access and utilize technology
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, parents, and community members

The Nitty Gritty:

As a founding coach of Stratford’s robotics team, you will have the opportunity to build a leading program from the ground up, starting with Grade 9, then adding additional teams as interest grows. Ideally, you will have the opportunity to grow with your team and have the authority to hire coaches to replace your position on more junior teams, with support from the school. 

Stratford believes in intentional balance. Therefore, we will be working to create a consistent schedule for our students. We expect our coaches to be on-site on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 PM - 6:00 PM during the robotics season which starts with the school year and ends depending on the team’s placement that year and qualifications for higher-level events. Additional weekend dates and travel may be required for competitions.