Our Approach

Our Approach to Public Education

Working with partners to strengthen teaching practices, recruit and retain a diverse and representative educator force, and build deeper connections between schools in and the communities they serve.

At TAF, we believe education should be a tool for liberation, not assimilation. Instead of preparing students to pass a test, our STEMbyTAF model prepares them to change the world, starting with their own communities.

Putting Students
at the Center

When students are at the center of their learning, they are not passive recipients of information; they are researchers, designers, engineers, and advocates. Our approach to learning cultivates autonomy because we trust students to shape their own learning journey by giving them the space, tools, and support to do so.

A Holistic Approach to Transforming Education

The STEMbyTAF model

We partner with public schools to create equitable learning environments that foster student growth and development by honoring each student’s identity, background, and aspirations. STEMbyTAF is an interdisciplinary learning model that uses project-based learning to engage students in real-world challenges that develop solutions through collaborative inquiry.

Professional Learning

We provide professional development for educators and administrators centered on racial equity and student-centered learning. Through contextual, relevant professional learning and coaching support, teachers are equipped with the support and tools to create environments where students take ownership of their own learning.

Community Involvement

We build deep connections between our schools and the communities they serve to embed community relevance into the classroom. By connecting academic content with the real-world context of their own communities, classrooms can foster greater engagement, motivation and sense of belonging – helping students see themselves as active participates in shaping the world.

Strong Partnerships

Our partnerships are not one-size-fits-all. We work with schools, districts, and universities to identify their unique challenges to create a system that is more responsive to students’ needs. Through dedicated coaches who work side-by-side with educators to co-create engaging classroom environments where traditional boundaries between academic disciplines dissolve in favor of an integrated, student-centered approach to learning.

Why the STEMbyTAF Model Works

The research is clear, project-based learning offers students and teachers a more equitable learning experience. It provides an engaging academic experience that reaches far beyond textbooks and instruction.

The STEMbyTAF model, uses equity as a foundation in its approach to learning. By bringing in community voices, connecting learning to cultural and community context, and centering student voice, it enables students to learn compulsory content (reading, writing, math, science) in multiple ways and understand how it’s applied. Starting in kindergarten, students embark on a true educational journey where they use their voice, collaborate, and learn from failure. Through the process, they understand who they are as learners, research, and interact with various professionals in their community.

The culmination of their work showcases how they help each other be their best by presenting their findings to the community at large and taking time to reflect on their experience.

Professional Learning the TAF Way

Professional learning grounded in racial identity development to better support and sustain educators of color. Providing spaces for authentic connection through racial affinity, our professional learning is culturally sustaining, trauma-informed, anti-racist, and responsive to the unique needs of students and educators alike.

Learn More

Professional learning dedicated to supporting educators in student centered learning. Through equity-rooted, student-centered professional learning student students of color can thrive in a system that was not built for them. By supporting the growth of teachers, we support the growth of students, creating a public education that truly centers students.