Volunteer Spotlight: Jay Jordan

For more than seventeen years, Jay Jordan has been a steady, inspiring presence in the FIRST LEGO League community. Jay’s journey with FIRST in Texas began back in 2001 when FiT first took on program delivery for North Texas. Since then, he has worn many hats, often all at the same time. Today, Jay serves as the FLL Senior Head Referee for FIRST in Texas, building on more than a decade of experience as both a Head Referee and Referee in the North Texas region. His impact also extends across roles such as Judge Advisor, Judge, and Event Director for countless Qualifiers and Get Ready events.

Jay’s volunteer story began the same way many great FIRST journeys do. He started as a coach. This season marks his seventeenth year coaching FLL teams, and it remains the heart of what keeps him involved.

When asked about his most memorable FIRST experience, Jay immediately returned to an unforgettable moment at a Qualifier several years ago. His team had been struggling with a single mission for weeks, trying every programming and mechanical tweak they could imagine. On the morning of the event, the students made a few final changes and hoped for the best. During the very first match, the robot executed the mission perfectly. The entire team erupted into cheers and excitement, jumping and celebrating so wildly that they nearly forgot the robot was still running on the field. That moment of pure joy, fueled by perseverance and determination, is the memory that continues to energize his passion for coaching and volunteering.

For Jay, the greatest reward has always been watching students grow. Seeing a young person gain confidence, develop new skills, and realize what they are capable of is what makes every hour of volunteering worthwhile. Refereeing and serving as a Head Referee are roles he truly enjoys, but the long term growth of his team members is what brings the most meaning.

Throughout his time with FIRST in Texas, Jay has also discovered something just as valuable as the technical achievements of the program. Volunteering in different roles has introduced him to many incredible people who have become friends well beyond the robotics arena. These relationships, built through shared purpose and community, are an important part of why Jay continues to show up year after year.