Uncategorized Archives

Congratulations to our 2025 STEAM Educators of the Year, RAFT Heroes, Volunteer of the Year, and Partner of the Year! Thank you for all you do for our educators, students, our community, and RAFT! STEAM Educators of the Year Brian Boyce Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary STEAM Teacher of the Year presented by Cisco Brian Boyce…

At RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching), we are committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning that ignites curiosity and fosters creativity. We are excited to share that, thanks to a substantial grant from the Ross Stores Foundation, we have been able to significantly expand our services to Title…

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, RAFT hosted its annual fundraising event: The Magical Maker Mobile. Over 140 supporters were present at RAFT, which was transformed into a beautiful space for the special event that evening. That evening, we honored the individuals and organizations that have made a profound impact on RAFT and the education community.…

RAFT kicked off July with a hands-on, minds-on celebration of innovation by partnering with Synaptics for their Bring Your Kids to Work Day at the company’s San Jose campus. Synaptics employees brought their children to learn more about what their parents do and how STEM and STEAM skills power the technology all around us. RAFT…

RAFT’s STEAM Dream Summer Camp is officially underway, and the first few weeks have already been packed with creativity, curiosity, and hands-on learning! We kicked off our 2025 summer programming on June 9 at Stratford – Crestmoor Canyon in San Bruno and launched additional sites the following week at Orchard School and Alum Rock School…

Congratulations to our 2023 STEAM Teachers of the Year, RAFT Heroes, RAFT Volunteer Awardees, and RAFT Partners of the Year! Thank you for all you do for our educators, students, our community, and RAFT! STEAM Teachers of the Year Michele Huesties STEAM Teacher, Sierramont Middle School STEAM Teacher of the Year Presented by AON Ms.…

Since the launch of RAFT’s Endowment Fund last year, generous donors have helped us expand access to hands-on STEAM education across the Bay Area. Through dedicating funding to our school and district partners, RAFT has been able to provide professional development training, memberships, and shopping credits for educators, empowering them to bring engaging, experiential learning…

At RAFT, we believe in the power of mentorship, hands-on learning, and fostering a love for STEAM. Our Maker Mobile Mentor Program, done in partnership with the Synopsys Outreach Foundation, continues to grow, and we’re thrilled to introduce our second cohort of incredible mentors! These bright individuals bring their passion for STEAM and education to…

RAFT has taken a bold step towards securing the future of hands-on learning with the announcement of a $5 million endowment. This fund will ensure affordable STEAM materials for educators and provide ongoing support for innovation in education. Learn how RAFT is building a lasting impact for generations to come.

We at RAFT are sad to share that a long time hero of the RAFT community, Wayne Suzuki, has passed away. Since the start of RAFT, Wayne has been an integral part of the organization over the course of our 30 year history. Wayne had a true passion for educators. After working at IBM for…