Some Valley educators attend Robotics Caucus meeting in Washington, D.C.
Some Mahoning Valley educators were selected to attend a Congressional Robotics Caucus Meeting in Washington, D.C., according to a news release.
The meeting, called "The Keys to Reshoring Manufacturing: A Skilled Workforce, Advanced Robotics and a National Strategy," took place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The meeting aimed to bring Congress together with industry leaders and educators to highlight the role of robotics, automation and workforce development.
Furthermore, discussions surrounded a need for a "unified national robotics strategy" to support manufacturing and workforce readiness across the United States.
According to the release, educators from the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (MCCTC) and the Valley STEM Academy represented the Mahoning Valley during the meeting.
Pictured above, from left to right, is Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), who introduced the panel discussion, Boston Dynamics' Brendan Schulman, Path Robotics' Heather Carroll, Intrinsic's Torsten Kroger, LCCC's Terri Santu and MCCTC and Valley STEM Academy's Jason Moore and Matt Peters.
Jason Moore, Industrial Robotics and Automation instructor, and Matt Peters, a Technical Integrator, represented the schools during the meeting.
Both educators, according to the release, highlighted how students trained in robotics can earn certifications and get high-wage careers at a "fraction of the cost" of four-year college programs.
"MCCTC and Valley STEM Academy were selected to participate because we are training both high school and adult students in a cooperative environment using the latest technology," said Peters in the release.
Peters continued," Our significant investment in equipment, facilities and personnel allows us to provide real-world, career-connected learning experiences that align directly with industry needs."
