Teacher Feature: George Pearce- Where Tech Meets Teach

In today’s world, STEM and technology skills are essential for students to develop problem-solving in the workplace and prepare for career opportunities. George Pearce, STEM & Applied Technology Teacher at Gordon Bell High School, is helping his students build those essential skills through the school’s Drone Technology Program. His commitment recently led to the school receiving a $10,000 Best Buy Teen Tech Grant to support the continued growth of applied technology at Gordon Bell.

Building a Foundation in STEM

Pearce's passion for STEM learning comes from a personal interest. “It was just part of who I was as kid, playing video games and being into computers,” he explains. “I had no formal training, but it was enough to give me a head start.” Through professional development and collaboration with other educators, he became involved in STEM learning.

During his initial career years, he was a technology support teacher at the elementary level at Strathcona School. In his time there, a major literacy grant was awarded. “That funding significantly expanded our STEM initiatives in the library and helped build a strong foundation” he says.

When Pearce joined Gordon Bell in 2018 to teach Grades 7 and 8 Math and Science, he carried that vision with him, integrating technology, design thinking, and experiential learning into everyday classroom experiences.

Launching the Drone Program

After spending time getting to know the school community, Pearce began questioning how Gordon Bell could offer a program that was both unique and future oriented. In 2020, he began developing the idea of a drone technology course, given the rapid growth of the technology and its applications across multiple industries.

Last year, after getting his course approved and funded, he taught his first Grade 10 Introduction to Drone Technology class. “It was a small group of 10 students, which fit well because we were building materials and resources,” he recalls.

He also took on reinstating Gordon Bell’s Electronics Program, which covers the foundations of electronics, components, circuits, microcontrollers, and some coding. through hands-on learning. “Now I’ve been doing Grade 7/8 STEM, Grade 9 Comprehensive Tech, Grade 10 Electronics, and Grade 11 Electronics, which is tied into my Introduction to Drone Technology class.”

On a regular day, students learn about avionics, safety regulations, and piloting best practices. “This week we started actually flying,” Pearce says. “There’s excitement, smiles, laughter, but also responsibility.” This experiential learning allows students to actually practice skills they’ve been developing.

Expanding Opportunities Through the Teen Tech Grant

To keep expanding the program and to gather more resources, Pearce also took it upon himself to apply for grants.

He came across the Best Buy Teen Tech Grant and framed the application around future ready skills and equitable access for Gordon Bell students. “I talked about the needs of our school and how our students deserve something like this,” he explains.

The school was elated when they received confirmation of the grant money, which will be used to enhance their drone equipment and strengthen the program.

The Future of the Program

As he continues to develop the structure and scope of his electronics programming, he hopes to deepen industry connections and build pathways from the classroom to post-secondary education and employment. “In a few years, I hope to provide job-ready skills and possibly work placements before students leave the building, so they enter directly into a job site”.

As an educator, his focus is about joyful learning. “If I expect students to do the hard work of learning, they should get something out of it” he shares.

For him, teaching is about more than technical knowledge. It’s about helping students discover what they are capable of and building confidence along the way.