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Two Fairfax County Public Schools educators have earned Air Force recognition for bringing advanced robotics and drone technology into hands-on classroom lessons.

Andrea Trumbull of Ravensworth Elementary School and Desanka “Desa” Elwell of Edison High School incorporated new STEM tools through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research STEM Team’s ACCESS Lending Library Program.

Trumbull, an Advanced Academics resource teacher with nearly two decades of experience, introduced Edison Robots to almost 600 students across multiple grade levels. She encourages students to experiment and “make a mess to make meaning,” while connecting technology with other subjects to deepen learning.

At Edison, Integrated Engineering teacher Elwell leads students in the Global STEM Challenges Program. Her ninth- and 11th-grade students were among the first to use DroneBlocks indoor classroom sets, applying practical problem-solving skills as they explored drone capabilities.

Elwell also participated in the 2022 STEM Teacher Leadership Academy cohort and has used its resources to expand her curriculum and provide students with practical engineering experience beyond textbooks.

The Advancing Collaborative Curriculum Engagement for STEM Stakeholders Lending Library Program launched in 2024. It has reached more than 1,600 students across the National Capital Region and West Virginia by giving educators free access to advanced technology and professional development.

A planned 2025 expansion includes a “train the trainer” initiative designed to extend the program’s reach through additional educators.