San Jose, CA, Dec. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — City Year Bay Area and The Tech Interactive today announced a new partnership designed to equip the next generation of Bay Area educators with hands-on STEAM training, real-world teaching experience, and high-impact professional development. Together, the organizations will provide City Year AmeriCorps Members with unique access to The Tech Interactive’s award-winning programs, expanding their skills while deepening support for local students.
Partnership between City Year Bay Area and The Tech Interactive equips City Year AmeriCorps members with cutting-edge STEAM skills to support pathways into teaching.
As part of the collaboration, City Year AmeriCorps members will engage directly with The Tech Challenge, The Tech Interactive’s signature engineering design program. This year’s challenge invites 4th and 5th grade students to design low-cost, sustainable housing solutions for the Bay Area, an authentic and timely problem that mirrors issues facing local communities.
“The Tech Challenge has this incredible way of turning the classroom into something that offers unique real-world experiences,” said Pranav Joshi, Impact Analytics and Special Projects Manager at City Year Bay Area. “I still remember working on the Explore the Volcano challenge as a student in 2009, and how it brought science to life. Our AmeriCorps Members will now get to help create those moments for young people across the Bay Area.”
Investing in Future Teachers: The Tech Interactive Fellowship
The launch of the Tech Interactive Fellowship provides specialized, in-depth STEAM training for six AmeriCorps members, representing an investment of over $7,500 in professional growth. Four Fellows will attend half-day Saturday workshops between January and April, and two Fellows will attend a week-long Summer Institute in July.
All participants will earn the valuable credential of Tech Academies Fellows, building a strong foundation in design challenge learning, gaining hands-on facilitation experience, and developing skills that will support their career pathways as educators.
Preparing for the Future: Training in Computational Thinking and AI
In addition to the fellowship, City Year Bay Area will host a dedicated Learning + Development Day at The Tech Interactive, where AmeriCorps members will participate in lessons focused on computational thinking and AI foundations. This training will help deepen their understanding of emerging technologies and enhance their ability to support classroom instruction across partner schools.
“Empowering young leaders is essential to expanding access to high-quality STEAM learning,” said Katrina Stevens, President and CEO of The Tech Interactive. “Through the Tech Interactive Fellowship and our shared commitment to real-world, equitable education, we aspire to support today’s City Year AmeriCorps members as they become the transformative educators of tomorrow.”
A Shared Commitment to Student Success
City Year Bay Area and The Tech Interactive share a long-standing commitment to expanding educational access, nurturing curiosity, and preparing students for a rapidly changing world. Through this new partnership, AmeriCorps members will gain tools to enrich STEAM learning while building the skills and confidence they need to thrive as future educators.
About City Year Bay Area
City Year is a youth-powered organization with a dual mission: expanding educational equity and developing diverse leaders through national service. Research shows that students supported by City Year AmeriCorps members see stronger academic, social, and emotional outcomes. A public-private partnership and proud member of AmeriCorps, City Year operates in 29 U.S. cities with affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Nearly 40,000 alums continue to lead and serve in their communities.
Learn more about City Year’s six areas of impact or how to serve: http://www.cityyear.org.
About The Tech Interactive
The Tech is a mission-driven organization that develops the next generation of problem-solvers locally, nationally and globally, through the creation and distribution of world-class immersive STEAM education resources. We believe that everyone is born an innovator who can change the world for the better.
For media inquiries:
Corbie Kiernan
City Year Bay Area
+1 650-649-8355
corbie.kiernan@cityyear.org
Press inquiries
The Tech Interactive
https://www.thetech.org
Katie Barrow
publicrelations@thetech.org
201 S. Market St.
San Jose, CA 95113
