Both Pleasant Lea Middle School’s STEAM_Black and STEAM_Gold competed at the qualifying event for the state FTC Robotics championships next month. And STEAM_Black is one of 48 Missouri teams who will compete at the state event.

Hundreds of young engineers, both current students and alumni, have one person in common: Nancy Spatz.

The Lee’s Summit West technology specialist and robotics coach and February Learning for Life winner plans and teaches STEM camps, supports tournaments, runs the LSW robotics program and fosters robotics programs across the district, including Trailridge Elementary’s.