Germantown teacher credits district support for new robotics push

Tim Gendering, a technology-education teacher at Germantown Middle School, said the Germantown School District has supplied his classroom with new tables, 3D printers and grant funding that allowed him to win a recent award for robotics supplies and begin rebuilding a robotics team.

"I really appreciate all the stuff that they've been doing for me," Gendering said, describing district support that he said has been "unending" since he arrived.

Gendering told an interviewer that the school community — staff, students and administrators — makes work "easier" and fosters a family-like atmosphere. "We're always trying our best, and we're always doing what's best for the kids," he said when asked what families should know about Germantown Schools.

The remarks emphasized classroom-level resources and local collaboration rather than districtwide policy decisions. Gendering identified specific supports: new furniture, 3D printers and grant awards for robotics supplies. He said he is "trying to start a robotics team up again," signaling plans to translate the classroom investments into an extracurricular STEM program.

No formal proposals, motions or budget figures were discussed in the conversation, and Gendering did not specify the size or source of the grant beyond confirming it was recently awarded. The exchange lasted a few minutes and ended with a brief musical outro.

Gendering's comments highlight the role of material resources and staff collaboration in sustaining hands-on STEM instruction at Germantown Middle School. He said the district's investments have helped him pursue extracurricular opportunities for students and noted ongoing internal collaboration among educators to improve instruction.