Amid the Oklahoma winds that scatter paper planes and inspire childhood dreams, Ashlee Hightower, a teacher at Bartlesville High School, and Brandi Peace, an educator at Tri-County Tech, lead aviation programs that defy gravity—encouraging students to look beyond the horizon and discover careers they never knew existed.
The Missing Gear in Drone Education
Oklahoma doesn’t just lead the nation in aviation education—it sets the bar. Educators like Ashlee Hightower and Brandi Peace are carrying that legacy forward, introducing students to drone technology and preparing them for careers in aerospace. Yet, despite their efforts, drones still felt like toys.
And how could they not? The drone kits they introduced were expensive but flimsy—often unbuildable or prone to breaking mid-flight. “If technology designed for flight can’t get off the ground,” Ashlee says, “how can students see themselves soaring?” To make matters worse, some drones required an iPhone, excluding students without.
Brandi shares Ashlee’s frustration. “Our student organization competes in a contest where they build drones to pick up and transport objects. They’ve been working on the same kit for two years, but the drone hasn’t even flown yet—let alone completed a delivery.” These barriers sent a discouraging message: a future in drones felt out of reach for many, limited by access to technology and resources.
Determined to find a solution, Ashlee and Brandi connected with Paula Kedy, Oklahoma’s Aerospace and Aviation Education Coordinator, who invited them to beta-test Pitsco’s new Drone Infinity program. Paula recognized the potential: “Oklahoma is committed to equipping schools with the resources needed to prepare students for aerospace careers. The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics is proud to partner with Pitsco Education to field-test Drone Infinity, helping teachers stay current on unmanned aircraft development and providing students with the latest in drone engineering.”
Finally, they had the tools to lift the drones—and their students’ dreams—off the ground.
Turning Classrooms Into Launchpads
After years of struggling with complicated drone kits, Brandi, Ashlee, and their students were amazed by how intuitive Drone Infinity was. “It reinvigorated their drive,” Brandi says. “After two years of frustration with another kit, they regained their confidence and were eager to tackle the more challenging kit again.”
Drone Infinity’s flexible design made it easy for both Ashlee and Brandi to adapt lessons to students’ levels. “I can let my advanced students lead their learning, but then rely on the curriculum for younger students,” Brandi explains. The turn-key nature of the curriculum, complete with objectives, quizzes, and materials, allowed both educators to focus on teaching rather than planning logistics.
The students, with varied skill levels, dove right in. Some carefully followed the instructions, while others skipped ahead. “I’d watch them put the clockwise motor where the counterclockwise one should go,” Ashlee recalls. “But even those mistakes were valuable—they learned about cause and effect.”
When drones didn’t work as expected, the students collaborated to troubleshoot, using problem-solving language that showed deep understanding. “Even the kids who usually need extra encouragement were hands-on with this project,” Ashlee shares. “They were some of the fastest to get the drones flying!”
The learning went beyond assembly as students built quad and hexcopter configurations and used iNav software to program flight patterns. “They weren’t just building—they were communicating, problem-solving, and imagining the possibilities of flight,” Ashlee says.
She recalls the excitement as students unboxed their kits. “It was like Christmas.” When the first group’s drone flew on the first try, that excitement spread through the school. “The group that finished first couldn’t wait to test theirs. They had huge grins, flying it up and down the hallway as students and teachers gathered to watch.”
For Ashlee, that moment was about more than drones—it was about her students realizing their potential. Some who once struggled with basic skills now had the confidence to build and fly drones. Concepts like “yaw,” “pitch,” and “roll” became intuitive, bridging theory and practice in a way that opened their eyes to new possibilities in STEM.
When it Comes to Careers—The Sky isn’t the Limit
For Ashlee and Brandi, the Drone Infinity kits offered something vital: a hands-on, accessible solution that engaged every student while preparing them for real-world challenges. “The hands-on aspect is what keeps my kids coming to school,” Brandi says. “Tri-County Tech has adopted a majority hands-on curriculum. The public school is more traditional; it does a lot of lecture-style classes. My students spend half their day at the public school, then half at Tri-County, and I’m always shocked to hear they are disengaged or aren’t showing up to their classes at the public school—because they have great attendance here.” Brandi considers the discrepancies in attitudes towards learning in the different environments. “Once they’re here, they’re doing things they consider to be “fun”. They love the aspect of being able to build, invent, and see what they can do.”
Drone technology is reshaping industries, from agriculture—where farmers use drones to track cattle and soil—to search and rescue, aerial photography, and even pizza delivery. “At a recent farm show, I saw drones for spraying fields,” Ashlee explains. These advancements sparked new conversations in her classroom, helping students see how the skills they were learning could lead to careers in technology, engineering, and beyond. By mastering drone technology, they’re gaining hands-on STEM experience and valuable skills for a rapidly growing market.
Drone Infinity Empowers Students to Reach Higher
Pitsco’s Drone Infinity program is more than a classroom tool—it’s a spark. It ignites curiosity, fuels problem-solving, and lights the way to careers students may have never considered. With industries like agriculture, logistics, and emergency response evolving to rely on drone technology, programs like this don’t just teach—they prepare. For educators, Drone Infinity offers the opportunity to deliver hands-on learning that truly engages students, turning curiosity into capability. It’s a chance to inspire the next generation, equip them with future-ready skills, and show them that the possibilities ahead are as limitless as their potential.
Ready for lift-off? See how Drone Infinity can turn your classroom into a flight path for success!