Pulaski Street School students in Riverhead have formed a drone technology group called the Riverhead Air Force, building on the Riverhead Central School District’s Rocket Drones program.
The group was founded by members of Pulaski’s makerspace club and library media specialist Crystal Valentin-Espinosa. Students use the club to develop drone flying and coding skills and take part in advanced challenges, the district said in a press release Monday.
The Riverhead Air Force recently competed in the inaugural Long Island Drone Competition, organized by Nassau BOCES and Rocket Drones and held at Nassau BOCES Seaman Neck Middle School in Seaford, drew 90 competitors from school districts across Long Island.
Pulaski student Leonardo Lopez earned first place in drone basketball and had the highest overall point total, according to Riverhead Director of Technology Robert Hines. Lopez also placed second in line-of-sight racing and was named “Top Pilot for Riverhead.”
Riverhead launched its Rocket Drones program during the 2024-25 school year after district EdTech coach Jen Sauter connected with Rocket Drones co-founder Brandon Turk at the Long Island Technology and Education Summit in fall 2024. The district began with four classroom rover kits and expanded the program to elementary classrooms.
Third- and fourth-grade students have since learned drone safety, flight navigation, obstacle-course skills and precision landings through classroom lessons and assemblies led by Sauter and Turk, a commercial drone pilot.
The district said the program will continue for third- and fourth-grade students and expand through the Pulaski makerspace club and into the Riverhead Middle School curriculum.
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