Meet the Thinkerers: Capstone Projects That Change Everything

Real projects. Real purpose. Real people who just won’t wait for permission.

Every educator in our Thinkering Fellowship shows up with something powerful—an idea that won’t leave them alone. Maybe it started as a hallway conversation, a classroom frustration, or a vision scribbled in a notebook late at night. But with community, support, and a little bit of wind at their back, that idea becomes something more.

It becomes a capstone project that changes lives.

Over the last few months, our 2025 Thinkering Fellows—whom we lovingly call Thinkerers—have taken their spark and built fire. From the very first design sessions to their final public presentations, they’ve shown the world what’s possible when teachers are trusted not just to deliver a curriculum—but to design the future.

These aren’t theoretical plans. These are active, tangible innovations built from the ground up by educators who deeply know their communities, care about their students, and are done waiting for someone else to solve the problem.

They’re doing it themselves. And we think they’re amazing.

A Few Highlights from This Year’s Fellowship so far:

Here’s just a glimpse of what our Fellows are building:

• Hilary Lozar is creating immersive VR experiences that give rural and underserved youth access to Indigenous stories and faraway adventures—without ever leaving their schools.

• Anna Voth is helping students process trauma and reclaim identity through narrative circles and bibliotherapy-inspired journaling.

• Michael Drezek is tackling digital overwhelm with Device Freedom, a flexible, student-centered curriculum to foster healthier tech habits.

• Kim Rich is turning her school garden into a living lab of cultural identity, sustainability, and student leadership.

• Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola launched a mobile STEM Safari Lab in Nigeria to bring hands-on STEM learning to kids who’ve never touched a microscope.

• Andrew Wilson helped his students create a published coloring book to fund turtle conservation and environmental awareness for their local community.

• Kelsey Muellner designed Kaleidoscope Learning, a social-emotional curriculum built specifically for the needs of gifted and twice-exceptional students.

• Loretta Erickson is reviving a school garden and built a youth-run farmers market to address food insecurity and build cross-generational connection.

• Verna Rolland created Future Worlds, a project-based program where gifted learners design solutions to community problems and grow as collaborative changemakers.

Each project is documented, shared, and celebrated on Thinkering Media —because these stories deserve to be told, amplified, and supported.

 What People Are Saying

“This is the first time I’ve felt like my idea was seen—and like it could really happen.”
— Thinkering Fellow

“I was emotional just watching the presentations. The energy in the room was joyful, powerful, contagious.”
— Capstone Event Attendee

“This is the future of PD. We don’t need checklists. We need communities like this.”
— Thinkering Mentor

“I wish I had this when I started teaching. I might never have thought about quitting.”
— Community Member

 Help Us Keep It Going

The Thinkering Fellowship runs on shared belief. It’s powered by people who say: Yes. We believe in educators. We believe in impact. We believe in what’s possible.

If you’ve ever wanted to support education that feels real, human, joyful, and brave—this is your chance.

🎯 Donate now to support the Fellowship and fuel the next round of capstones:
givebutter.com/thinkeringcollective

🔗 Follow the Fellows

We’re documenting each journey at our storytelling hub, where you can read full articles, watch interviews, and hear the voices of the educators changing the game.

📚 thinkeringmedia.substack.com

Nominate a Fellow or Apply to become a Thinkerer!

These Fellows aren’t just building projects.
They’re building community.
They’re building hope.
They’re building the future of learning.

Let’s Thinker together.