The Lansing School District serves over 10,000 PreK-12 students across 25 school buildings in the increasingly diverse urban community of Lansing, MI. We are unique compared to other districts because of the wide variety of exciting and innovative educational options from which families and staff members can choose. All of Lansing School District’s team members are dedicated to our mission to provide an excellent education to all students in a safe and nurturing environment.
Position Type: Part-Time
Schedule: 10–12 hours per week
Program Year: 36 weeks per year
Estimated Annual Hours: 360–432 hours
Position Summary
The Drone Pilot Instructor will lead a hands-on, career-focused drone education program for high school students. The instructor will teach students the knowledge, safety practices, flight skills, and professional skills needed to pursue an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107.
The instructor will combine classroom instruction with practical drone activities, helping students understand how drones are used in fields such as construction, forestry, agriculture, public safety, real estate, environmental science, photography, surveying, and other emerging careers.
The FAA currently requires applicants for a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate to be at least 16 years old and to pass the initial aeronautical knowledge examination.
Key Responsibilities
Qualifications
Required
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
- Demonstrated experience safely operating drones/UAS
- Ability to work effectively with high school students
- Strong communication and classroom-management skills
- Ability to explain technical information in an age-appropriate way
- Commitment to aviation and student safety
Preferred
- Experience teaching, coaching, mentoring, or training youth
- Experience with drone photography, mapping, surveying, GIS, inspection, forestry, construction, or another UAS application
- Experience preparing students for FAA Part 107 testing
- Knowledge of FAA airspace and LAANC procedures
- Experience developing hands-on STEM or career-and-technical education activities
Schedule
10–12 hours per week for 36 weeks per year
The schedule may include:
- Classroom instruction
- Hands-on flight sessions
- Student project development
- Individual student support
- FAA exam preparation
- Career exploration activities
- Program planning and documentation
Some outdoor instruction may require flexibility based on weather, daylight, and safe flying conditions.
Student Outcomes
By the end of the program, students should have:
KNOWLEDGE
A strong understanding of drone operations, safety, aviation, and FAA requirements.
SKILLS
Hands-on experience operating drones and completing drone-related projects.
CAREER AWARENESS
An understanding of how drone technology is used across multiple industries.
WORKFORCE SKILLS
Experience with teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and professional conduct.
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
Preparation to pursue the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate for eligible students.
Important: The program prepares students for the FAA certification process; the FAA establishes the eligibility and certification requirements. Students must meet FAA requirements and successfully complete the required process to receive a Remote Pilot Certificate.
Position Mission
Teach. Train. Fly. Prepare students for the future.
The Drone Pilot Instructor will help high school students turn an emerging technology into real-world skills, career exploration, and a pathway toward professional drone operations.
At Lansing School District, we champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing equal opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation. We foster a rich environment for professional growth and student experiences by valuing diverse perspectives. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite passionate individuals dedicated to educational excellence to apply for our positions.
We value internal mobility and list "Strong Internal Candidate" when considering an internal candidate before posting a job. We still encourage all candidates to apply.
Complete the attached online application at your earliest convenience. If selected, we will contact you to set up an interview. While we strive to provide prompt feedback, the high volume of applicants may limit our ability to do so. All of our jobs will be posted for at least 10 days (unless otherwise noted), but we will review applications on a rolling basis.
External candidates interested in multiple positions within the same department need only apply to one posting and can indicate other roles of interest in the final question. We will consider your application for various roles based on your qualifications.
Internal candidates should apply using their SSO email address and submit separate applications for each role of interest.
Thank you for your interest in joining our mission-driven team. We look forward to meeting you!
This job description is intended to outline the general responsibilities and qualifications for the position. It is not an exhaustive list of duties, and the Lansing School District reserves the right to modify job responsibilities as needed. Due to the evolving needs of the District, additional job responsibilities may be assigned (depending on funding sources).
