For over three decades in education, Bill McDonough has been helping students discover their voice, build confidence, and shape their future. Through robotics, he created what he calls a “seven-year internship for the real world”, a program where students learn not just to build robots but to build resilience, leadership, and skills that carry into every corner of life.
When Bill first brought robotics to his Connecticut school, he didn’t have a ready-made team or parts. However, he had a vision and a box of ice cream to recruit students. That modest start grew into a powerhouse program: today, more than 150 middle and high school students crowd his workshop, building, coding, testing, failing, and trying again. Over the years, approximately 450 robotics students have passed through his school’s doors, and at least one team has competed at the VEX Robotics World Championship for the last thirteen years.
Bill coached sports all his life, including soccer, baseball, and basketball. However, robotics was different. “It’s not about drawing up different game plays,” he reflects. “Robotics is about standing back, guiding, and giving kids a safe place to fail and then learn from it.”
Students start as early as sixth grade, discovering not just how to code or build, but how to communicate, solve problems, manage stress, and lead with integrity. In his eyes, robotics is less about robots and more about resilience. “The joy of success is fleeting,” Bill says. “But the lessons from failure? Those are what stick. Robotics gives kids a safe place to crash, rebuild, and grow stronger.”
Bill’s commitment goes beyond developing technical and soft skills, including communication. He has built a culture where every student has a role, from future valedictorians to students with special educational needs. Girls, in particular, find encouragement here, as nearly 40% of his middle school program is female, thanks to his intentional outreach to local Girl Scout leaders and parents.
In addition, he wanted to give more students, beyond his town, the opportunity to experience the benefits of robotics. Bill has become a statewide leader by serving as a consistent resource for other educators and parents seeking to establish robotics teams in their area. He has worked tirelessly to secure more than $1.3 million in grants to expand robotics across Connecticut, funding live-streaming trailers, coach training, and event partner support. His goal is clear: “STEM is for all.”
Alumni of Bill’s program are now at institutions such as MIT, Yale, Cornell, Amazon Robotics, Google, and beyond. Others chose community colleges, apprenticeships, or teaching; it’s proof that success looks different for every student and that all paths are worth celebrating.
As he looks ahead to retirement in a few years, Bill hopes his legacy isn’t just trophies or titles, it’s people. “I want my students to become better adults who can handle stress, solve problems, and contribute to whatever life they choose,” he says.
In his opinion, robotics is simply the tool to build a generation of resilient, compassionate, and confident leaders.
