Students from Saco Middle School (SMS) recently took center stage at the 2025 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference held at the University of Maine in Orono, where they shared their growing expertise in drone technology with nearly 1,000 students and educators from across the state.
The annual conference, hosted by the Maine Department of Education and themed "#LetsDiriGo," offered a full day of interactive sessions centered on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital creativity, and robotics. Ten students and two teachers representing Saco Middle School’s Drone Pilot Training Club led a hands-on drone session that demonstrated their skills in piloting and programming unmanned aerial vehicles. The presenting students included eighth-grader Zachary Kane, seventh-graders Josh Alley and Lynn Riche, and sixth-graders Jack Glaude, Ollie Hutchinson, Rivka Katler, Parker Libby, Lucas Roy, Logan Smith, and Konner Wong.
“I think it’s just a great way to learn,” said SMS sixth-grader Konnor Wong. “I think it’s just fun overall.”
Saco Middle School’s drone initiative began after the school received a $10,000 MLTI grant last year, which allowed the purchase of seven drones. The two staff members, Chris Hayden and Lisa Ronco, responsible for acquiring the grant, are members of the York County EMA and are both FAA-certified commercial drone pilots. Since then, students have been learning to operate the drones safely and effectively, and have all completed and passed the FAA TRUST certification for recreational drone pilots. As a bonus to the school district, the club has been using the technology to document the progress of a local school construction project.
“Last year, it was so popular—and we only did one session in the morning. This year, we did two sessions. It’s a pleasure,” said SMS teacher Lisa Ronco, who has helped lead the drone program along with SMS’s Chris Hayden. “These kids are building their confidence.” It was amazing to see their sense of professionalism and responsibility as they flew a precision obstacle formation and demonstrated using a claw fitted to a drone to deliver supplies to a distressed hiker.
In addition to the 10 SMS students presenting, 40 SMS students also had the opportunity to attend sessions ranging from green screen video creation to a cyber defense simulation, all designed to foster creativity and critical thinking through the use of technology. Saco Middle School’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to preparing students for the future by integrating 21st-century tools into the classroom in meaningful, hands-on ways.
MLTI focuses on utilizing technology to transform teaching and learning in classrooms. Now in its 22nd year, the MLTI Student Conference remains a highlight for tech-savvy students across Maine, offering them a platform to explore new technologies and showcase the skills they’ve built throughout the school year. For more information about the MLTI program, visit the Maine DOE website at https://mainedoenews.net.
PHOTO CAPTION ABOVE: (L-R) Sixth-grader Konnor Wong and eighth-grader Zachary Kane from Saco Middle School (SMS) were among the ten students to lead a hands-on drone session at the 2025 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference.
