The man behind the kids

As with most inspirational teachers, you would be hard-pressed to get Kevin Chaisson to take any credit for the successes of his students.

Nevertheless, the Yorkton Regional High School electrical instructor and coach of the school's national championship robotics team for two years running insists it's all about the kids.

"All I did was open the doors and said, 'guys, come on in'," Chaisson said.

If he is willing to take credit for anything, it is for creating an environment that attracts students to the program.

"We have a room upstairs, I designed it, it's not exactly where I want it to be, but we have a fridge, we have a toaster, we have a place to relax," he said. "I want that kind of atmosphere, something more of a place where students want to go and hang out."

Carter Park, one of the four team members who captured gold in Vancouver two weeks ago at the Skills Canada robotics championship, knows better than most what a welcoming environment it is having spent virtually every lunch hour this year in the room.

"It feels like it's just somewhere in the school you can go that feels like another home," he said. "It's a comfortable place to be."

In addition to the "robotics lounge," Park said the layout of the industrial wing of the school with electronics, carpentry, mechanical and welding all together helps a lot.

"It's great," he said. "Everything we need is right there. He's done a really good job at that."

But just having a place to chill and proximity to workshops doesn't win championships. Park credits Chaisson's approach to coaching as the difference-maker.

"What I think he does really good, is he doesn't force us to do anything," Park said. "He's really just accepting of everything we do and that helps us keep our cool. It's easier to do something when you're not pressured and it's more fun to do it."

The kids aren't the only ones having fun, though.

"I love it," Chaisson said. "This is like one huge puzzle that maybe every week we might add another piece to the puzzle. And it's not just the mechanical portion, it's the mental picture. We develop the robots, but we also have to be cognizant of the fact we're developing their attitudes and how they perceive themselves, how they perceive under stressful situations, under normal situations."

Apparently it is working. On Day 2 of the national championships, the robot experienced breakdowns in their first two matches.

"The boys had to handle it as best they could and they did very well," Chaisson said. "They fixed all the problems, which I was impressed with because that's what they're training for and everything."

Ultimately, of course, the kids have to build the robots, they have to drive them, they have to compete, but before Chaisson, a carpenter by trade, came to the Regional in 2009, there was no robotics program at all.

"I started from scratch four years ago," Chaisson said. "I'd never played with a remote before, I'd never played with any of this. In that first year I was here, I wanted to start a program. Part of it was because I knew my son [Bo Chaisson, a member of the 2011-2012 national champion team and winner of a gold medal at the Skills America's championship in Brazil in December 2012] was interested in robotics. I don't think he understood what it was, but I wanted there to be something in place here."

Mike Haczkewicz, YRHS principal, said when Chaisson first pitched the idea, it was no big deal, just another of the many extracurricular options for the students. The school liked the idea and provided the space and resources to get it off the ground. He could not have imagined how popular and successful it would become.

"I think it's hugely impressive that it's become so successful so quickly," Haczkewicz said.

Equally impressive, the principal said, is that Chaisson is self taught in the robotics field.

"He's definitely found a niche for himself both personally and professionally," Haczkewicz said. "He's driven, he's passionate and he sets a high standard for the kids," he said. "Our school motto is 'Striving for Excellence.' He's definitely achieved it."

Chaisson remains humble to the end.

"It really has to be the students who want to come in," he said. "I don't do anything special."