jill, Author at Alameda Education Foundation

Calming Corner to Help Students with Anxiety

Students frequently experience emotional challenges such as anxiety, frustration, and...

Studying Earthquakes with STEAM Kit

Courtney Yarbrough, a 2nd grade teacher at the Academy of Alameda, applied and was awarded a grant to purchase a DreamBox STEAM kit for her classroom to do various science experiments. She knew her class responded well to hands-on learning experiences, and she was eager to provide an opportunity to include some hands-on, NGSS aligned science exploration in class. These projects were above and beyond her regular science curriculum and would allow students to enrich their learning in a fun way.

Students Experience Shakespeare

Because of a grant from AEF (and the school’s Dads Club), all the students at Maya Lin Elementary were able to see a professional, age-appropriate production of Shakespeare’s play Julius Ceasar, performed by SF Shakes, a San Francisco-based theater company. Every Maya Lin student, regardless of their family’s ability to pay for theater tickets, had the opportunity to have a front-row seat at a world-class cultural experience!

SF Shakes goes to great efforts to encourage BIPOC,

Jodi McCarthy and Her Perspective on Teen Mental Health

by Eleanor Hahnel, The Echo (Encinal Jr/Sr High School News Site)
March 24, 2026

Read the original article here.

Teen mental health is an important topic to discuss, yet it is not talked about often due to social stigma, and because it is deeply personal. Many teens struggle with their mental health, though this can appear in different forms. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing,

AUSD School Board Proclaims AEF Appreciation Day

The AUSD School Board proclaimed April 28, 2026 (the fourth Tuesday in April annually) as Alameda Education Foundation Appreciation Day.

“The Board of Education is honored to recognize the Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) for its vital partnership and contributions to Alameda Unified School District.

In 2024–2025, AEF provided over $117,000 in direct support, including teacher mini-grants, student supplies, technology access, and mental health resources, and distributed approximately 1,000 backpacks to students in need.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI)

Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Month

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (as...

AHS Counseling Enriched Classroom Program

Making a Difference in Daily Life at School

Counseling Enriched Classroom Program (for grades 9-12) counselor, Emma Elliott recently received an AEF Teacher Mini Grant and wrote:

“The students in the Counseling Enriched Classroom (CEC) program at Alameda High School have greatly benefited from the Educator Mini-Grant provided by the Alameda Education Foundation. Our students face a range of mental health challenges that can make it difficult for them to make it difficult to come to school, interact with peers,