Lee Roberts has been teaching forensic science to high school students for years. But he'd never been in an actual, working crime lab until this week, when he spent time with the staff of the Forensic Science Division of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.
"I had an opportunity for an externship and I was able to get in here at the Washoe County Sheriff's Office," Roberts said. "I've been working with the different sections, different people, and they're been sharing everything with me. They're all so knowledgeable and friendly."
It's something made possible by the Nevada Department of Education and Tesla. He spent the week learning about everything from ballistics to DNA testing.
"I get to run my DNA, I've never had that done before," he said.
He says learning in a real-world environment has been invaluable.
"The biggest thing I've learned is that it's a little different that what I expected in terms of what I've learned in school and through books, versus what actually happens," Roberts said. "I think that's important and I can't wait to share that with the students."
Roberts has been teaching for 31 years, the last 5 at the Career and Technical Education program at Sunrise Mountain High School in Las Vegas. It's designed to give students a jump start on specialized careers.
"It's a three-year program, and the point of our class is the kids can get six college credits," he said. "And when they graduate, they should be able to go into the field and be career ready."
He's excited to head back south and share all that new knowledge - but, maybe not just yet.
"I want to stay here," Robert said. "I'm already saying I want to come back next Summer, it's a great way to spend a week in the Summer."
