About Us
A network of people, spaces, and events collaborating to improve equity in education as the path forward.
Our Mission
To provide access to quality, relevant education focused on integrating design, technology, and community.
Our Vision
We envision a world where individuals are confident in their abilities, free to question, and have access to the resources and opportunities they need to build a fulfilling life of their own definition.
Our Values
- Equity
- Design Thinking
- Maker Mindset
- Progressive Education
- Open Collaboration
Who We Are
SteamHead is a nonprofit founded by educators with a goal to openly share educational resources and teaching ideas.
We believe that by embracing design thinking and a maker-mindset, education can be more engaging and meaningful — and with that, more effective in preparing students for success.
Volunteer work began in 2011; SteamHead was recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity in California in 2018. Our legal name is simply SteamHead — a nonprofit, not an LLC. See our Nonprofit Status page to verify our standing directly with the IRS.
Open Collaboration
In the SteamHead community, teachers and parents can freely exchange teaching materials, strategies, and perspectives. This open sharing is seen as crucial for creating a more enriched educational environment, allowing teachers to learn from each other's successes and challenges.
Through a culture of openness and teamwork, SteamHead aims to empower educators by providing a supportive network that enhances the quality of education for students worldwide.
Our Team
Founded by James Simpson and Carrie Leung, SteamHead is built by educators, makers, parents, experts, and collaborators from around the world. Our residents and team members each contribute to the space and community — many becoming continuous contributors over time.
Team
Residents
Board of Directors
SteamHead is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Director email addresses and phone numbers are kept as internal governance records and are not published here.
| Name | Role | Board Member Since |
|---|---|---|
| Christy P. Wang | President | January 2025 |
| Carrie Leung | Treasurer; Board Member since Feb. 2018 | January 2025 |
| Benjamin (James) Simpson | Secretary, Board Member | February 2018 |
| Twila Busby | Board Member | February 2018 |
| Maria Ellena Villagomez | Board Member | January 2025 |
| Shannon Hoover | Board Member | January 2025 |
In Their Own Words
“The MakeFashion Edu Runway Show was “the best day of her life.””
“We created lasting change in the education community of Shenzhen that can be evidenced today — still going strong and continuously evolving on its own, without us being there.”
Funding
SteamHead runs on volunteer time and in-kind support, supplemented by project-based grants and donations — we actively welcome both. Most of our programs carry no fee: bringing MakeFashion Edu to a classroom, for example, takes roughly 100 hours of adult supervisor time, most of it layered onto a school's existing schedule, with SteamHead staff available on request to help carry the load. We don't run tiered sponsorship packages; funding and partnership conversations happen case by case, usually starting with an invitation into a community. Donations of any amount are welcome and go directly toward the mission. See our Funders & Partnerships page for how to get involved, or our FAQ for more on how programs are run.
Join the Community
Educators, did you know that Hackers are lifelong learners contributing educational content to their communities? Hackers, did you know teachers from Kindergarten through University are advocating for the skills and values in your makerspaces to be brought into schools?
Join us online to discuss and support each other. No experience required — all levels of Educators and Hackers welcome.
Get in Touch