Ignited

Ignited Connecting classrooms to careers since 1985: 40 years, 4K teachers, 4M students.

We connect educators with science and technology professionals to tackle tough problems, sparking creativity in the classroom and in the real world. Check out our teacher and industry programs here: http://www.igniteducation.org/programs/

🌱 How can methane be transformed into eco-friendly bioplastics?Join our upcoming Learning Community, Bioeconomy: Methane...
08/31/2026

🌱 How can methane be transformed into eco-friendly bioplastics?

Join our upcoming Learning Community, Bioeconomy: Methane to Materials and hear from Anne Schauer-Gimenez, Cofounder and COO of Mango Materials, about how the company is turning methane into sustainable materials—including an exciting new development in Stanislaus County.

Anne will also share her career journey and the skills students need for careers in the growing bioeconomy. Plus, a teacher will share a ready-to-use lesson to bring these sustainability concepts into the classroom!

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore an innovative industry and connect real-world science to classroom learning!

📅 September 8 | 4:30-5:30 PM | Zoom
🔗 igniteducation.org/teachers/learning-community

08/28/2026

POV: you ask an Ignited teacher what they did over summer break 👀

From tech and engineering to AI and agriculture, our teachers spent their summer inside these industries — so their students learn about the future of work from someone who's seen it firsthand.

Here's to a school year built on real-world experience. Welcome back, teachers! 🍎

🧪 Looking for a hands-on biology activity? Help students build essential lab skills with Dilutions Crash Course, a multi...
08/24/2026

🧪 Looking for a hands-on biology activity? Help students build essential lab skills with Dilutions Crash Course, a multi-day lesson that challenges students to create solutions of different concentrations, chart their procedures, compare results, and learn through trial and error. Perfect for high school biology classrooms looking to bring math, science, and the scientific method together!

Check it out: join.igniteducation.org/resources/dilutions-crash-course

Ignited's Resource Library (https://join.igniteducation.org/resource-library) is an online, open-access repository of le...
08/24/2026

Ignited's Resource Library (https://join.igniteducation.org/resource-library) is an online, open-access repository of lessons created by teachers, for teachers — currently home to 630+ resources and 5 curated collections spanning topics from semiconductors to electric vehicles.

This summer, the library got some extra attention thanks to Ignited fellow Nicole Padia, a physics teacher at Carondelet High School, who served as our in-house Resource Library Specialist. Working behind the scenes, Nicole helped optimize the library's user experience and visibility for educators, making it easier to bring cutting-edge industry content into classrooms.

A five-time Ignited fellow, with previous experiences at companies like Lockheed Martin and Dow Chemical, Nicole brought four of her students to speak at our Spark the Future celebration about the impact of industry connections on the classroom. Nicole reflected: "It just reminds me how as teachers we always have to evolve and change because the world around us is changing...The Ignited fellowship really allows us as teachers to continue to change and grow."

Thank you, Nicole, for helping ensure the Resource Library will continue to serve teachers for years to come! And a huge thank you to Electrify America for making both Nicole's fellowship and this work possible.

☀️The latest Ignited newsletter is packed with educator opportunities, grants, professional learning, STEM resources, an...
08/19/2026

☀️The latest Ignited newsletter is packed with educator opportunities, grants, professional learning, STEM resources, and summer updates you won't want to miss.👩‍🏫

📩 Read now: https://conta.cc/4gdUMOn

📬 Join our mailing list for future updates: igniteducation.org/listserv

And the winners are in!Each summer, we ask our teachers to show us what Ignited's programs look like through their eyes,...
08/19/2026

And the winners are in!

Each summer, we ask our teachers to show us what Ignited's programs look like through their eyes, and this year's photo contest did not disappoint. We received 75+ submissions capturing everything from exploring watersheds on a pontoon boat to discovering the science of cheesemaking. Thank you to every teacher who shared a piece of their experience with us.

After deliberation, we're thrilled to congratulate this year's photo contest winners!
🏆Fiona Tsang | Science in the City Week
🏆Sarah Oliver | Bioeconomy Week
🏆Sophia Rout | Bioeconomy Week
🏆Ivy Abayabay | East Bay Sustainability Week
🏆Dayla Shimada | Semiconductor Week
🏆Lynette Gilson | Semiconductor Week

A special thank you to our generous donors — Oakland Zoo, Exploratorium, Wi******er Mystery House, Gilroy Gardens, Hiller Aviation Museum, and CuriOdyssey — for providing prizes for this contest!

A heartfelt thank you to the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford University for hosting ...
08/06/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford University for hosting Ignited's 2026 Spark the Future celebration last week!

Teachers, industry partners, and community supporters gathered at the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm to celebrate an incredible year of impact — 175 teachers connected with industry, gaining insights they'll carry into 127 schools across 65 districts, reaching an estimated 23,100 students this school year.

The energy was high, the conversations were meaningful, and the commitment to our shared mission was inspiring. Explore the photos and see what it means to be Ignited!

As summer winds down, we want to extend a special thank you to the incredible Curriculum Coaches who make our programs s...
07/27/2026

As summer winds down, we want to extend a special thank you to the incredible Curriculum Coaches who make our programs successful!

These seasoned educators bring deep expertise in pedagogy and curriculum design, helping their fellow teachers translate industry experiences into meaningful, standards-aligned learning for students. Coaches also provide essential guidance, coordination, and support that keep our programs running smoothly from start to finish.

We're grateful for this summer's outstanding coaching team:
🌟 Summer Fellowship Program: Debra Dimas and I-Heng McComb
🌟 Experience Weeks: Jenny Chin, Kiruthika Paulvannan, Esme Tovar, Liz Metzler, Penny (Loftesness) Campbell, James Stiltner, and Kerin Coffey

The impact of their support is best reflected in the words of our teachers:

"My coach was incredibly supportive, encouraging, and always willing to share their knowledge and experiences. They made me feel welcome throughout the externship and took the time to explain the work, answer my questions, and help me connect what I observed to my classroom teaching. Their guidance gave me a better understanding of industry careers and inspired me with practical ideas I can use to prepare my students for future employment. I truly appreciated their patience, professionalism, and genuine interest in helping educators succeed."

Over the past five days, 17 educators deepened their understanding of the environmental challenges and innovative soluti...
07/24/2026

Over the past five days, 17 educators deepened their understanding of the environmental challenges and innovative solutions shaping our future!

Through our Sustainable Solutions Week, teachers got hands-on with green jobs, watershed stewardship, sustainable infrastructure, and the circular economy — gaining insights that will connect students to sustainability careers.

Here are some of the highlights:
✅️MONDAY: Pontoon boat tour of San Pablo Reservoir and learning how Sobrante Water Treatment Plant is processing safe, clean water
✅️TUESDAY: Visiting EBMUD's Pipeline Training Academy and Berkeley Center for Smart Infrastructure to learn how next-generation technologies are helping protect critical infrastructure from aging systems, climate change, and natural disasters
✅️WEDNESDAY: Hearing from experts at Marathon Petroleum about renewable fuels and touring the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) to learn about the science and technologies that help generate biofuels and bioproducts
✅️THURSDAY: Touring Vulcan Materials Company's processing plant, exploring career pathways in construction and engineering, and participating in a fun "cookie mining" activity
✅️FRIDAY: Scientific sketching on a tour of Pacheco Marsh and wastewater treatment plant tour with Central San

Thank you to our funders for making this transformative program possible: East Bay Municipal Utility District, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Delta Diablo, and Vulcan Materials Company.

We can't wait to see how these educators bring new ideas, refreshed lesson plans, and renewed energy back to their classrooms this school year!

Today concludes EMWD Water Week! Over the past five days, 19 teachers learned about the careers and systems that keep wa...
07/24/2026

Today concludes EMWD Water Week! Over the past five days, 19 teachers learned about the careers and systems that keep water flowing for nearly one million people across western Riverside County and northern San Diego County.

A huge thank you to Eastern Municipal Water District for sponsoring this week, opening their facilities, and connecting teachers with the industry professionals who are ensuring access to safe, clean water now and into the future.

Here's a look at what teachers have been up to:
💧MONDAY: Touring the Water Quality Lab and learning about careers in water planning and water operations
💧TUESDAY: Visiting the Desalination Plant and Water Filtration Plant, as well as learning about how water projects are planned and implemented
💧WEDNESDAY: Touring the Temecula Valley Regional Water Reclamation Facility and hearing from experts in operations and engineering
💧THURSDAY: Visiting the Mechanical Services Industrial Shops and learning about safety and how students can prepare for a job at EMWD
💧FRIDAY: Learning about the importance of cybersecurity and geographic information systems (GIS) for water utilities

Throughout the week, teacher also practiced hands-on activities they can bring back to their classrooms and made field trip plans so their students can experience the same places they visited this summer.

We can't wait to see how these educators transform their new knowledge into engaging lessons that inspire students to explore careers in this vital field!

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5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Santa Clara, CA
95051

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+14085532267

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