Tyler Lopez Cultivates Community and Innovation at South Valley

May 11 2026

Since the start of the 2025-2026 school year, we’ve been keeping up with Tyler Lopez and his STEM classrooms at South Valley Junior High. See how his experience at SVJHS helped him turn a room of strangers into a community of "great young scientists" who are finishing the year with a high-energy BattleBots competition.

A group of teenagers are gathered around a grid on the floor, controlling remote-controlled robots in a classroom setting.

When the 2025-2026 school year began, Tyler Lopez brought five years of experience to the science classroom at South Valley Junior High. After attending a GPS career fair, Tyler knew immediately he had found good people, noting he was deeply impressed by the honesty of the science department and the welcoming demeanor of the campus leadership.

At the start of the year, Tyler leaned on his new team as he mastered new systems and curriculum. This strong support system allowed him to feel less stressed and more present with his students, helping him rediscover his love for teaching middle school science.

"You've got plenty of people to help you," Tyler advised other new teachers in the district.

As the first semester progressed, Tyler watched his students transform into "great young scientists." The classroom moved from theory to practice as students engaged in hands-on lab work - learning to collect evidence, analyze results, and understand the importance of scientific reasoning. Tyler noted a significant shift in his students' professionalism and their ability to work together to solve real-world problems.

Now, as the school year draws to a close, the classroom has evolved into a high-energy space for innovation. Students are currently fully invested in a BattleBots project, applying the engineering design process to build custom robots for competition.

"A self-directed student experience with all students fully engaged and invested in their learning experience? Couldn't ask for a better place to be," Tyler shared.

Beyond academic success, Tyler reflects most on the growth in relationships. What began as a room of strangers has become a community where students drop by daily to share stories. For Tyler, this has been a landmark year both professionally and personally, as he also celebrated his wedding this past April.

Supported by the collaborative culture at South Valley, Tyler is more confident than ever. He is eager to take the knowledge he gained this year to continue creating positive changes for his future Sabercats.

To learn more about the culture at South Valley Junior High, schedule a tour at SouthValleyJr.GilbertSchools.net/Tour.