RAFT Blog, News, and Events

Bringing Hands-On STEAM Learning to San Diego Educators

May 18, 2025

RAFT recently had the pleasure of participating in the San Diego STEAM Educators Conference at the University of San Diego from May 16-17. The event brought together hundreds of teachers from across the state committed to advancing STEAM education across Southern California. Nancy McIntyre, RAFT’s new Community Engagement Manager, represented our team at the conference,…

From Honoree to Advocate: A STEAM Award’s Ripple Effect

May 14, 2025

At RAFT, we believe in celebrating educators who bring STEAM to life through hands-on learning. Our STEAM Teachers and Administrators of the Year Awards honor those who go above and beyond-and sometimes, that recognition inspires something even bigger. Just ask Bryan Williams, a past STEAM Teacher of the Year award recipient who later nominated another…

DreamBox Impact Series: Milpitas Unified School District

April 1, 2025

Engaging EL and SPED Learners Through Hands-On STEAM For the past two summers, RAFT has partnered with Milpitas Unified School District to bring hands-on STEAM learning to the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) summer program. This past summer, 230 fourth- through sixth-grade Special Education (SPED) and English Learner (EL) students became environmental engineers-designing water filtration…

Bringing Stories to Life: RAFT’s Intersession Program at Northwood Elementary

March 18, 2025

This winter, Northwood Elementary students in Berryessa School District embarked on a creative journey through RAFT’s three-day Intersession program. Designed to spark imagination and hands-on learning, the program engaged 66 students in grades K-5 in the art of puppet-making, storytelling, and performance, culminating in a special showcase for families. Student-made marionette puppets displayed with crafting…

RAFT Prepares for New Leadership

Mar 9, 2017 | Comments Off

Grainger Marburg, CEO, Resigns SAN JOSE, CA, March 09, 2017 — The Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) Board of Directors announced that Grainger Marburg is resigning from his position as CEO effective April 14, 2017. During his tenure, he has successfully led RAFT in…

RAFT Partners with Lockheed Martin Space Systems during National Engineers Week

Feb 28, 2017 | Comments Off

Lockheed Martin Space Systems volunteers assemble 500 STEM kits that will help inspire 4,600 future engineers SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 27, 2017 – RAFT, Resource Area for Teaching, is the leading solution center helping educators to transform a child’s learning experience through hands-on education.…

RAFT Again Earns 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

Feb 13, 2017 | Comments Off

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 13, 2017 – RAFT – Resource Area for Teaching, the leading solution center helping educators to transform a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, is proud to announce earning the coveted 4-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and…

RAFT Colorado: Waste Diversion With a Purpose: Recycling Materials for Education

Feb 10, 2017 | Comments Off

BY JULIANA LYTKOWSKI ON FEBRUARY 1, 2017 Shaping the future of education, by recycling. On average, teachers spend about $500 of their own money on supplies for their classroom and students, and many companies and manufacturers unknowingly throw away items that could help alleviate…

RAFT Hires New Director of Development Mizgon Darby

Feb 1, 2017 | Comments Off

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – February 1, 2017 – RAFT – Resource Area for Teaching, the leading solution center to help educators in transforming a child’s learning experience through hands-on education, is excited to welcome our new Director of Development, Mizgon Darby. “In the last…

RAFT Announces Cyber Security Learning Module and Design Challenge Kit

Jan 10, 2017 | Comments Off

San Jose, CA, January 10, 2017: There is a growing need for a digitally literate workforce that uses technology in a safe and secure way. Through a generous grant from Symantec Corporation, the global leader in cyber security, RAFT has developed a cyber security…