Stefanie Hausman

Hours of play with my Fisher Price schoolhouse was my first entry into the world of teaching. I used the pull-down chalkboard to teach the ABCs to the wooden peg dolls and rotated the hands of the clock at the start and end of each “school day.” Since then, my “eduventures” have taken me into a wide variety of learning scenarios. In high school, I was fortunate to continue my schooling in the UK, where I realized the influence of people and place, beyond the four walls of a school, on my educational experience. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin (Madison), I dabbled in immersive journalism; meeting a wide range of people and telling their stories. After this detour, I taught junior high school students in rural Japan, where—in addition to learning judo—I was treated like a local celebrity and soaked in the culture through Japanese onsens (hot springs).

Back in the states, I was compelled to devote myself to teaching and was drawn to Stanford University’s education program for its experiential approach and focus on school reform. Teaching in the Mission District of San Francisco satisfied my personal “mission” of working with urban students and engaging them in project-and service-based learning. Next, I found myself in Boston, Massachusetts, putting the theories I learned to the test by working at an organization focusing on comprehensive school reform around the country through the integration of technology.

From Girl Scouts patenting their products, to students in the Bronx growing aeroponic gardens, to teachers in Ireland piloting project-based learning, I’ve since witnessed the impact of teaching and learning when augmented by technology. For the past 25 years, I’ve been devoted to designing innovative digital-age educational opportunities so that students can realize their amazing potential! I am thrilled to continue my journey with NAF.