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An in-person FTC Coach/Mentor Professional Development. This is a requirement of the Scale-Up Program.

Agenda:

  • Day 1: Agenda (TBD)
  • Day 2: Agenda (TBD)
  • Day 3: Agenda (TBD)

Where:

  • Various dates & locations throughout Iowa.

Registration:

  • PD Registration Opens on April 20, 2026 (linked here)
  • PD Registration Closes on May 7, 2026 at 11:59pm CST.
  • Scale-Up recipients will receive an direct email to register for the PD.
  • Note: This Prof. Development will also be open to current non-Scale-Up educators, but the top priority will be given to Scale-Up recipients and second priority will be to those coaches who were rookies during the 2025-2026 DECODE season.

Items to be brought the PD:

  • Organization's Tax Exempt Certificate
  • Laptop with access to a web browser
  • Safety glasses & closed-toe/closed-heels shoes
  • Food and drink for breakfast, lunch & snacks

Goals of the PD:

  • Equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively mentor and coach FTC teams.
  • Foster connections among coaches and mentors for ongoing support and collaboration in FTC-related activities.
  • Educate attendees on updates to the FTC program.
  • Broaden the perspectives of coaches, encouraging innovative thinking in their coaching and mentoring strategies.
  • Provide hands-on experience through a mini-season simulation, covering elements such as build season, tournaments, judges' interviews, and alliance selection.
  • Communicate the expectations and guidelines set by the Iowa leadership for effective coaching and mentoring.
  • Ensure most sessions are interactive and engaging to maximize learning and retention.

Expectations from the attendees:

  • Actively participate in all sessions and activities.
  • Engagement and collaboration with fellow participants to enhance the learning experience.
  • Openness to learning and applying new coaching methods and strategies.
  • Providing constructive feedback to help improve future PD sessions.
  • Commitment to implementing the knowledge and skills gained within their educational environments and FTC teams.
  • Meeting all the requirements.