Drone Tech Navigators Academy Helps Students Soar Beyond the Classroom

Edward P. Ward III retired from education in July 2022 after more than three decades working in classrooms and administrative offices across New Jersey. Still, he wasn’t ready to quit teaching altogether. 

Instead, he found a new method to inspire the next generation of STEM learners — drones.

Ward, now 60, is a United States Air Force veteran who served four years as a computer specialist and another four years in the reserves, training new airmen. He said that experience sparked his lifelong interest in education.

“I liked the education field, I liked training,” he said. “When we had to train new airmen, I thought, this is pretty cool.”

After leaving the military in 1990, Ward began his career in education as a testing coordinator at the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, where he maintained records and assisted inmates in selecting educational tracks. 

He went on to earn his teacher certification and taught basic math before moving into public schools. Over the next 31 years, he worked in districts including Camden, Willingboro, Princeton, Trenton, and Franklin Township — going from a science teacher to supervisor of instructional technology. 

Ward said that as technology began to evolve, he made it his mission to integrate new tools into the classroom. 

“Anytime something new came out, whether it was iPads, Chromebooks, Lego Mindstorm,” he said. “I was always looking for ways to make it part of instruction.”

That curiosity carried over into his personal life. Ward now runs a DJ entertainment and multimedia production company, working in drone videography, video editing, and digital storytelling. 

So, when drones started to become more affordable to consumers about a decade ago, he quickly realized the limitless potential.

“When they made drones affordable for the normal consumer, that’s when I got really interested,” he said. “The Tello drone was one of the first I purchased, then the DJI Spark. Those were consumer drones that could be used for education or by hobbyists without spending thousands of dollars.”

Ward began by experimenting with aerial photography and quickly realized drones could do more than just capture scenic views. 

“I was going around taking pictures, and I said, you know what, let me share this technology with the younger generation,” he said.

Higher Learning

The idea took flight in 2021, when Ward and his wife, who ran a STEM program called “Project STEAM Role” in Willingboro, teamed up to test pilot a drone program for young girls. Using only five iPads and five Tello drones, they wanted to see whether the kids would take to it or not. “They really enjoyed it,” he said. “That’s when I knew it was doable.”

The Drone Tech Navigators Academy took flight soon after, with the goal of introducing students in grades 3-through-12 to STEM learning through hands-on lessons in aviation, coding, and multimedia. 

Now in its third year, the academy operates in 10 schools across six districts — from Camden to Willingboro — offering after-school, Saturday, and summer programs. Students not only learn how to fly drones safely but also how to code using JavaScript and Python and edit videos using iMovie and CapCut.

Through these lessons, Ward said he encourages students to think creatively and critically. “How could it impact you?” he asks them. “How could it be a tool to start a business?” He said he wants his students to see drones as more than toys. They’re tools for storytelling and gateways to lucrative careers. 

“The drone industry is projected to be worth $50 billion by the year 2030,” Ward said. “There are real opportunities here — in engineering, videography, agriculture, logistics — all connected through drone technology.” Ward’s program, he said, is designed to break down barriers for schools that might not otherwise be able to afford the equipment or have the staff with the technical background. “I bring everything,” he said. “The only thing I need is space and Wi-Fi.”

One of the academy’s most popular projects is Kappabotics, an eight-to-ten-week course facilitated by the Trenton alumni chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (Ward is a member), the Trenton Housing Authority, and the Capital City YMCA. The program introduces students to aviation through the fraternity’s Guide Right community service initiative.

“It’s a way for us to give back to the community while exposing youth to technology and future careers,” Ward said. “We used to do it with race cars — now we do it with drones.” Drone competitions are also part of the mix. The academy works with the Drone Racing League to give students access to simulators and flight challenges that test their speed, accuracy, and problem-solving. 

Ward said they are also excited to announce the start of a new Drone Soccer League, which is expected to launch in the winter of 2026. The programs are designed to be customizable. Currently, they are only available to public school students, but Ward says that he plans on expanding the program for adults next. His dream is to open a dedicated STEM academy with potential partners in Trenton, Camden, and Franklin Township. “Anyone that wants to learn this technology — parents, adults, anyone interested — that’s my next step,” he said.