Volunteer Spotlight - Gloria & Andrew Schuetze

For Gloria and Andrew Schuetze, inclusive education goes far beyond a single Saturday event. It is woven into their daily lives, their teaching, and their lifelong commitment to students of all abilities.

As coaches and sponsors of FIRST Access teams through Lutheran High School of San Antonio, their impact is felt across multiple robotics programs, including the FIRST Access FTC team Mechanical Mustangs Justify 21321 in partnership with Kinetic Kids, along with several FIRST Access LEGO Robotics teams made up of one or two students each.

Their journey into inclusive education began more than 25 years ago while Andrew was running summer enrichment camps for Gifted and Talented students in Edgewood ISD. Gloria, his wife, strongly believed that students in special education programs should be fully included in those camps. Together, they co-taught the combined sessions and quickly witnessed firsthand the success that comes when opportunity is extended to every learner.

So when FIRST Access launched at FIRST in Texas, the Schuetze’s did not hesitate. Becoming co-coaches for their FIRST Access FTC team was simply the next chapter of a mission they had already been living for years. “For us, the mission confirms what we’ve believed for years. That FIRST is life-changing for all involved,” Andrew shared. Since the FIRST Access Invitational began at Morgan’s Wonderland, they have participated every season and continue to grow the program through both FTC and LEGO robotics.

For Gloria and Andrew, FIRST Access represents equity in action. It is about ensuring that students with diverse needs receive the same high-quality, hands-on STEM education as their neurotypical peers. Through the peer mentor model, students do not just build robots together. They build confidence, leadership, and a sense of belonging. Seeing peer mentors pour into FIRST Access students and watching those students experience competitive success is deeply meaningful to both of them.

One of the most powerful moments they shared was watching a former FIRST Access FTC student transition into a traditional high school FTC team and compete at that level. That moment served as validation that FIRST Access is not a one-time experience. It is a launchpad. They are now also seeing FIRST Access LEGO students matriculate into their FIRST Access FTC program, continuing that pathway of growth.

Another unforgettable moment came during a recent league championship when their FIRST Access FTC team earned a pit interview during judging. Parents stood only a few feet away, capturing photos and videos of their students confidently engaging with judges. For many families, it was the first time they ever imagined their child participating in something like that. It was not just robotics. It was dignity, opportunity, and joy.

Over the years, the Schuetze’s have witnessed incredible growth in both FIRST Access students and peer mentors. Students build confidence, patience, and pride through teamwork and technical problem solving. But the peer mentors experience equally profound growth. One former peer mentor, originally involved only to support her own teammates, discovered a calling through FIRST Access and is now graduating college with a degree and teaching certification in special education. Their experience proves that the impact of FIRST Access flows in both directions.

What sets FIRST Access apart, the Schuetze’s explain, is full integration. “This is not just a service project where the peer mentors supervise. It is a true partnership.” Their FIRST Access FTC team builds one night a week for 90 minutes and competes alongside mainstream FTC teams during the league season. Students receive the complete FIRST experience through the joy of building, the challenge of competition, and the celebration of robotics success. Their students also volunteer at the FIRST Access Invitational as referees and setup crew. Inclusion is not a side effort. It is fully embedded into the culture of the entire program.

Recent updates to the FTC competition manual now allow adults to join teams in the judging room when accommodations are needed. Their local league leadership, Gabe G. and Hilario M. of the North San Antonio / Hill Country League, along with longtime volunteers Peggy and Clark McChesney, helped lead the charge toward this policy. Even before this season, similar accommodations were made to ensure FIRST Access students had the resources needed to fully communicate their knowledge and contributions during judging.

“The emotional highpoint came when that team earned a pit interview at the league championship,” the Schuetze’s shared. “watching their parents standing just a short distance away, taking pictures and video of their child engaging directly with the judges —something many of them never imagined their student would experience in high school—was unforgettable. Moments like that make it clear that FIRST Access isn't just robotics. It is opportunity, dignity, and joy.”

If you have never attended a FIRST Access event, the Schuetze’s describe the environment as joyful, collaborative, and fueled by fun. Coopertition is on full display as teams celebrate one another while still pushing themselves to succeed. “It’s a place where differences disappear, and the focus is entirely on the shared goal of building and learning,” they shared.

One moment that captured this spirit perfectly occurred when a LEGO team had to completely reprogram their robot at an event due to a laptop issue. Instead of frustration, the pit was filled with laughter, teamwork, and small celebrations after every success. Between each line of code typed came another shared laugh. The desire to do well and hopefully win was still there, but the joy of learning together mattered most. One of the core values of FIRST is fun, and at FIRST Access, fun is always present.

Looking ahead, the Schuetze’s hope to see FIRST Access continue to expand so that every student in their region who wants to participate in robotics has access to a dedicated team. They envision more students transitioning from FIRST Access into mainstream teams and continuing their STEM journey at higher competitive levels. They plan to continue supporting the program by co-coaching their FIRST Access FTC team with Kinetic Kids and ensuring their students remain committed volunteers at the annual FIRST Access Invitational at Morgan’s Wonderland.

One thing the Schuetze’s wish more people understood is that inclusive robotics transforms everyone involved. The benefits for students with disabilities are immense. But the effect on peer mentors is just as powerful. FIRST Access shapes leaders, builds empathy, and influences future careers. It teaches that collaboration and inclusion are among the most powerful forms of innovation.

Their work stands as a reminder that when every student is given a place to belong, the entire community grows stronger.