Scaling an Art-Based Innovation Pilot: Connecting Students to STEAM Pathways
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Backstory
Every teacher's journey begins with a story. From there, we implement ideas, lead others, and ultimately scale what works to create opportunities for more students.
My story begins as a third-grade teacher at Bringhurst Elementary in the Fremont Unified School District. This summer, I am partcipating in a fellowship with Ignited in Gene Academy at Genentech. This fellowship transformed the way I think about STEAM pathways. At Gene Academy, I've been helping develop arts-based innovation activities and resources that build students' confidence in communication and strengthen their resilience in problem-solving, complementing hands-on science learning. Learning how Gene Academy's STEM pathway grew—from a single third-grade classroom of 24 students at South San Francisco Unified School District and a handful of Genentech employees in 2008—has been especially inspiring.
Partnerships like this take years to build, but they also raise an important question: How might something similar begin in my own community of Fremont?
That question became the starting point for my summer project. Read More
Educational Transfer Plan
This ETP (Educational Transfer Plan) explores how art-based innovation can serve as an accessible entry point into STEM and become the beginning of a community STEAM pathway. It is designed for three teacher audiences: (1) teachers implementing an art-based innovation lab with their own students, (2) teachers leading professional development or workshops on implementing an art-based innovation lab, and (3) teachers scaling an educational experience or pilot.
1. IMPLEMENT
For Teachers Implementing an Art-Based Innovation Lab with Their Own Students
For Teachers Implementing an Art-Based Innovation Lab with Their Own Students
This project demonstrates how positioning art as the starting point for innovation encourages students to imagine solutions first and then use STEM to bring those ideas to life. This approach helps connect students to future STEAM career pathways beyond a single classroom experience. Read More
3. SCALE
For Teachers Scaling an Educational Experience or Pilot
For Teachers Scaling an Educational Experience or Pilot
The case study is the Innovation Club at Bringhurst Elementary in the Fremont Unified School District. Although the case study centers on an innovation framework, the strategies for expanding teacher capacity, increasing student access, and building long-term sustainability are transferable to many educational experiences and school initiatives. Read More
Case Study
Links and References
Site Links
ETP Links
References
Anderson, L. (Host). (2026, April 13). Reimagining education through innovation (Episode 29) [Audio podcast episode with guest Kristine Tsung]. In Moving Forward: Change, Purpose and Possibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZZj9gRjlBc
California Assembly Bill No. 1454, 2025–2026 Reg. Sess. (Cal. 2025). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1454
California Department of Education. (2019). California Arts Standards for Public Schools, Prekindergarten Through Grade Twelve. https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/vapacontentstds.asp
City of Fremont. (n.d.). Economic development: Manufacturing and innovation. City of Fremont. https://www.fremont.gov
City of Fremont. (n.d.). About Fremont. City of Fremont. https://www.fremont.gov
Fremont Education Foundation. (2026, June). Meeting regarding community partnerships and innovation education [Professional meeting]. Fremont, CA.
Fremont Unified School District. (n.d.). About Fremont Unified School District. Fremont Unified School District. https://www.fremontunified.org
Crotty, K. N. (2026, June 18). Panel discussion on innovation careers and product development [Panel discussion]. International Flavors & Fragrances, Ignited Summer Fellowship Experience Week, Palo Alto, CA.
Genentech Gene Academy. (n.d.). Gene Academy. Genentech. https://www.gene.com
Marwah, D. (2026, June 30). Arts education is the best career preparation we have. We just don't talk about it that way. [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7479624037111975936/
NGSS Lead States. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For states, by states. National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18290/next-generation-science-standards-for-states-by-states
Resource Area For Teaching. (n.d.). RAFT. Resource Area For Teaching. https://raft.net
Support Fremont Schools. (n.d.). Community presentation materials and district funding information. Support Fremont Schools.
Tsung, K. (Host). (2026, January 15). Mixing art with STEM and innovation (Episode 6) [Audio podcast episode with guest Clark Kellogg]. In Curiosity Sparks Innovation. https://youtu.be/0NqqoxCd_Lk?si=-dLFLpLzZO3sOMr-
Wagner, T. (2012). Creating innovators: The making of young people who will change the world. Scribner.
Wolk, S. (2007). Why go to school? Phi Delta Kappan, 88(9), 648–658.
Field Research and Community Conversations
Fremont Education Foundation meeting, June 2026
RAFT meeting, June 2026
Support Fremont Schools presentation, June 2026
Community outreach conversations, June–July 2026
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