Like most good things at North Yarmouth Academy’s Middle School, it began with students asking questions. Could there be a robotics class? How about a club, activity, or even a team? The students’ enthusiasm motivated Middle School math teacher Anthony DeSantis to get involved. He had some experience in the subject, having worked with SPHERO robots while teaching at a STEAM school. But most importantly, he shared the students’ love for the robotics. He jumped right in, offering X-block electives in robotics for fall 2025 and becoming the Middle School. robotics coach.

Growing student and faculty interest in robotics soon caught the attention of NYA grandparents Case and Gail Lynch, GP ’29 and GP ’31, who were inspired to make a generous gift to support both the Middle and Upper School. Their donation allowed NYA to enhance and expand robotics offerings and create a new dedicated space where Middle and Upper School students could learn, experiment, and collaborate.

For Middle School students, the focus is on robotics basics with hands-on learning and the freedom to explore. Students work with VEX V5 kits with operations that are driven by coding, and have access to SPHERO robots, which are spherical and operated by a block coding system within an app. But there is so much more to robotics than just the nuts and bolts, according to DeSantis. “It involves critical thinking,” he says, “and a lot of problem-solving skills. It also allows kids to fail, which is, in my opinion, very important for kids of this generation. Instead of giving them the answers, I tell them to figure it out. It’s really neat to see them continue on a problem and not give up.”

Jess Zanetell, who coaches the Upper School robotics team and teaches Upper School math, shares DeSantis’s appreciation for the way robotics develops problem-solving skills. She particularly likes that students have the chance to do so as a team. “The students work together,” she says, “and apply concepts from different areas of science and technology.”

The fun doesn’t end with the school year, either. This summer, kids across Southern Maine have the opportunity to explore robotics through one of NYA’s Science and Engineering Camps, which feature SPHERO robots, engineering, and game making.

When asked what they were most excited about as NYA Robotics continues to evolve, both robotics coaches return once again to the students. DeSantis shares, “Some of the ideas that have been started have been speed cars and prosthetics. I am really excited to see what the kids can come up with.”

Meanwhile Zanetell says her students are eager for more hands-on learning opportunities and challenges. “They love testing their designs against other schools in local competitions.”

No matter what comes next for robotics at NYA, DeSantis sums it up best: “We’re just getting started.”

About North Yarmouth Academy

Founded in 1814, North Yarmouth Academy is an independent coeducational college preparatory day and boarding school. NYA is situated on 20+ acres in the coastal town of Yarmouth, Maine, 10 miles north of Portland and two hours from Boston. NYA enrolls over 400 students from toddler through postgraduate. For more information about NYA, go to NYA.org.