Omar Cortez is a dedicated educator and the driving force behind the Owlbots, a competitive robotics team based in Dallas, Texas. As a passionate advocate for STEM education, Cortez has become a role model within the RECF community, supporting both students and fellow coaches. His journey into robotics began not as an engineer, but as a second-grade math teacher inspired by his wife to explore the world of VEX Robotics.
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Cortez now teaches at a predominantly Hispanic school in Pleasant Grove, where he incorporates cultural connection and community into his robotics program. Through mentorship, competition, and classroom innovation, he uses robotics to foster collaboration, critical thinking, and future-ready skills. His coaching style emphasizes game-based learning and student agency, helping young people discover careers they are passionate about.
Cortez’s impact extends beyond the classroom. During the pandemic, he leveraged virtual tools to maintain international collaboration, even organizing online scrimmages with teams in Mexico. His commitment to inclusive, transformative STEM education led him to write Meshed Gears, a memoir reflecting on his early years coaching the Owlbots and the students who inspired him along the way.
Through robotics, Cortez empowers students to grow not only as engineers or programmers, but as confident communicators, resilient leaders, and lifelong learners.
