Category: Programs

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.

 » Read more about: Microscopes Bring the World Closer  »

2026 04 AoA Yarbrough-DreamBox STEAM

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.

 » Read more about: Studying Earthquakes with STEAM Kit  »

Maya Lin Students Experience Shakespeare

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,

 » Read more about: Students Experience Shakespeare  »

Teen Mental Health

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,

 » Read more about: Jodi McCarthy and Her Perspective on Teen Mental Health  »

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,

 » Read more about: Making a Difference in Daily Life at School  »

Art Across the Island (AATI)

We’re Celebrating 10 Years of Art Across the Island!

Art Across the Island (AATI)WHEN: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm

WHERE: Books, Inc. Alameda – 1344 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501

Join AEF and special guests at Books Inc., Alameda where we’ll be hosting a reception to celebrate 10 years of AEF’s Art Across the Island (AATI)!

For the past decade, Pam Riley Chang has been showcasing art by Alameda students across our island at city libraries and commercial venues.

 » Read more about: We’re Celebrating 10 Years of Art Across the Island!  »

EHS Students Tour Sac State

Encinal High Students Visit Sacramento State

For many of our students, visiting a college campus is not always an option. Having the opportunity to tour a campus often has a transformational impact on students’ knowledge and awareness of college life, and helps inspire their future educational path.

Lee Kaplan, Encinal High School College & Career Counselor wrote:

“Forty-four Encinal students visited Sacramento State on March 4th. We were able to take a campus tour, visit the recreation center,

 » Read more about: Encinal High Students Visit Sacramento State  »