Jesse Robinson joined Shady Side Academy Senior School in August 2019 as the director of the new Glimcher Tech and Design Hub, an innovative, 8,500-square-foot space dedicated to robotics, fabrication, engineering and computer science that is currently under construction and scheduled to open for the 2019-2020 school year.
In this newly created position, Robinson will partner with the school’s academic leadership to promote innovation and creativity across the curriculum while overseeing the day-to-day management and use of the new facility.
His responsibilities include: collaborating with academic department chairs to find opportunities to enhance the curriculum through projects in the Glimcher Tech and Design Hub; working directly with students in the facility and teaching classes; creating opportunities for programming in the facility, including partnering with outside organizations, and fostering engagement with the broader community; maintaining the lab spaces and equipment; training faculty and students to use the equipment safely and responsibly; and supporting teachers in utilizing the lab spaces for their own instruction in order to promote innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
Robinson comes to Shady Side from Greens Farms Academy, a PK-12 independent school in Westport, CT, where he served as the Director of Information Technology. Robinson designed Greens Farms’ technology curriculum and academic technology plan, assisted in developing the STEAM signature program, established Lower and Upper School makerspaces, implemented a 1:1 Apple laptop program, advised the robotics club and taught computer science. He also served on the planning committee for the Westport Maker Faire. For the 2019 Faire, he spearheaded The Great Duck Project, an initiative to create the world’s largest crowdsourced 3D-printed duck, which stands 6 feet tall and consists of 476 pieces sent in from around the world. Prior to Greens Farms, Robinson was director of technology at The Siena School (MD) and The Linsly School (WV) and taught at TASIS The American School in England (UK) and The Loomis Chaffee School (CT). He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Idaho and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Duquesne University, and is currently finishing his doctoral degree in instructional technology at Duquesne University.
