What if the most compelling example of future-ready learning this year didn’t happen in a classroom—but in the night sky?
That’s exactly what will take place at the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), where eight high school students from Longmont, Colorado, will produce and operate the first-ever student-created drone show in the conference’s history. This is not a novelty act. It is a fully FAA-approved, commercially viable drone performance using more than 500 drones—designed, coded, choreographed, and flown entirely by students from the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools.
The thesis is simple and urgent: Career and Technical Education (CTE) works best when students are trusted with real responsibility, real tools, and real audiences—and districts need examples that prove it now.
Why this matters now
Across the country, district leaders are seeking ways to make learning more relevant while preparing students for jobs that don’t yet have clear titles. At the same time, industries tied to aviation, robotics, computer science, media production, and engineering are evolving faster than traditional curriculum cycles.
This student drone show answers that challenge with action. The team spent more than 60 hours individually coding the performance using Python and Blender. Students composed original music, designed aerial graphics, planned logistics, managed safety protocols, captured professional video deliverables, and earned commercial drone pilot licenses—operating at a professional standard with real market value.
As instructor Joe McBreen explains, “We didn’t design this program to simulate industry—we designed it to be industry. Students aren’t pretending to be professionals; they are professionals, accountable to clients, regulations, and real-world outcomes.”
From “exposure” to execution
Many CTE programs focus on exposure: introductions to careers, tools, or pathways. This model goes further. Students run the entire production lifecycle—from client meetings to final execution—mirroring how work actually happens beyond school walls.
That distinction matters. Students develop technical fluency in coding and flight systems, creative skills in design and music production, and durable skills like collaboration, project management, and problem-solving. The result is a program that collapses the distance between school and workforce readiness.
For district leaders looking for a concrete example, the Innovation Center’s Drone Performance Team offers a clear blueprint. Their work—and resources—are publicly accessible through the St. Vrain Innovation Center’s program page.
Addressing the obvious concerns
Is this scalable? Is it safe? Is it equitable?
St. Vrain’s approach answers all three. Safety and compliance are embedded through licensing and approval processes. Scalability comes from modular design—districts can start small and grow capacity over time. Equity is addressed by embedding the program within a public school system, expanding access to advanced learning experiences that are too often limited to select programs or private opportunities.
What district leaders can do next
This story isn’t about drones alone. It’s about designing CTE programs that operate at professional standards. District administrators can take several practical steps:
- Partner with industry to define what “real work” looks like and align programs accordingly.
- Prioritize credentials that carry immediate workforce value.
- Create public showcases that give students authentic audiences and accountability.
- Invest in educators willing to serve as project leads and mentors, not just content deliverers.
As Jennifer Womble, Conference Chair of FETC, puts it:
“This drone show is more than a performance—it’s proof that when we trust students with meaningful work, they rise to the occasion. This is CTE as a launchpad, not a track.”
An invitation to look up
District leaders attending FETC are invited to experience this historic student-produced drone show in person at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, immediately following the Expo Hall Reception. After sunset, look to the night sky over International Drive—best viewed from the West Concourse exit.
