jill, Author at Alameda Education Foundation

Writing, Publishing and Sharing Children’s Books

Melissa Smiley, 8th grade teacher at Academy of Alameda (AOA), described a book project for 8th graders explore the psychology of learning and reading development, how lessons are taught through children’s stories, and the publishing process. The final project for this unit would be for students to write and create a children’s book with a specific grade level in mind that would share a specific message with the audience. When the books are completed, the 8th graders will participate in “Buddy Day” where they will visit elementary school classrooms and share their stories with the younger students.

2026 Zainab Wood Middle School microscopes

Microscopes Bring the World Closer

Wood Middle School grades 6 – 7 science teacher, Naveed Zainab, applied for a mini grant to purchase 5 microscopes for the class. Microscopy is an essential part of the 6th-grade science curriculum, and to ensure every student has hands-on experience, the school typically aims for two students per microscope.

Unfortunately, several microscopes were broken this school year, so up to four students had to share one microscope at times making it challenging for students to fully engage in the learning process.

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.