# Meghan Raftery

> A multipotentialite working at the edges of education, helping communities, educators, and kids grow the skills that matter in real life.

## Pages
- [On Screen](https://meghanraftery.com/on-screen/): Meghan Raftery spent three evenings with Los Angeles Unified CTE teachers for Defined Learning, coaching on project-based, real-world instruction.
- [In Print](https://meghanraftery.com/in-print/): On this page are my current projects, and things I'm working on.
- [In Person](https://meghanraftery.com/in-person/): Meghan Raftery presents and attends events with educators, builders, and community leaders on skills validation, credentials, and the future of learning.
- [Projects](https://meghanraftery.com/projects/): Meghan Raftery is developing durable skills curricula with Next Generation Scholars and building online learning modules with Defined Learning.
- [Now](https://meghanraftery.com/now/): A running snapshot of what Meghan Raftery is working on in May 2026, including the Education Design Lab $3.5M RFP, CROP Foundation, and Edjacent.
- [Start Here](https://meghanraftery.com/about/): About Meghan Raftery, a multipotentialite education designer: world-building, catalyzing change through ideas, cross-pollination, and a deep love of books.

## Articles
- [The Team in STEAM: Integrating Disciplinary Practices into Project-Based Experiences](https://meghanraftery.com/team-in-steam/) — 2026-06-18: Meghan Raftery on her published piece The Team in STEAM in the Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal: integrating disciplinary practices into projects.
- [The Family Voice Session at My Kids' School](https://meghanraftery.com/the-family-voice-session-at-my-kids-school/) — 2026-05-26: Meghan Raftery hosted a family voice panel at her kids' school, where alumni said grades two through eight were harder than high school or college.
- [Writing a Novel About Teaching and Learning](https://meghanraftery.com/writing-a-novel-about-teaching-and-learning/) — 2026-05-18: Meghan Raftery is writing her first novel in years, set in a future world where community mentors and real-world learning replace traditional schooling.
- [Launching the 10](https://meghanraftery.com/launching-the-10/) — 2026-04-24: Meghan Raftery launched 10 credentialing projects from 420+ applications, coaching them through an 18-month journey supported by a Walmart-sponsored RFP.
- [Next Generation Scholars: A Curriculum Handoff](https://meghanraftery.com/next-generation-scholars-a-curriculum-handoff/) — 2026-05-14: Meghan Raftery completed a six-skill curriculum for Next Generation Scholars, an after-school program for first-generation students in grades 6 through 12.
- [Experience Matters: A Common Language for Talent, Trust, and Economic Mobility](https://meghanraftery.com/experience-matters-a-common-language-for-talent-trust-and-economic-mobility/) — 2026-04-01: Meghan Raftery co-authored 'Experience Matters,' a report from Education Design Lab proposing a common language of experience to address the talent gap.
- [TAL-E](https://meghanraftery.com/tal-e/) — 2026-03-30: Meghan Raftery helped build TAL-E, an AI-powered tool by Wingspans that translates adult learners' lived experiences into skills and career pathways.
- [Speaking at the 2026 1EdTech Digital Credentials Summit](https://meghanraftery.com/speaking-at-the-2026-1edtech-digital-credentials-summit/) — 2026-02-02: Meghan Raftery presented at the 2026 1EdTech Digital Credentials Summit in Philadelphia with Nishita Chheda on skills assessment and validation.
- [Save the Date: $3.5M RFP launching Jan 8, 2026](https://meghanraftery.com/rfp/) — 2025-12-20: Meghan Raftery announced a $3.5M RFP to fund 7-12 projects making workers' skills and credentials more visible, trusted, and transferable.
- [5 Books That Earned My 5 Stars](https://meghanraftery.com/5-books-that-earned-my-5-stars/) — 2025-11-25: Meghan Raftery shares five books that earned her top rating, including 'I Who Have Never Known Men' by Harpman and 'The Fourth Turning Is Here.'
- [Hosting Cocktail Parties](https://meghanraftery.com/hosting-cocktail-parties/) — 2025-11-24: Meghan Raftery and husband Kevin host seasonal 2-hour cocktail parties in Virginia Beach four times a year, mixing friend groups and building community.
- [Meeting Change Makers at CBExchange 2025](https://meghanraftery.com/meeting-change-makers-at-cbexchange-2025/) — 2025-10-31: Meghan Raftery presented at CBExchange 2025 in Phoenix with Education Design Lab colleagues on competency-based education and skills-first practices.
- [Why Mental Health First Aid Belongs in Every Educator’s Toolkit](https://meghanraftery.com/why-mental-health-first-aid-belongs-in-every-educators-toolkit/) — 2025-10-21: Meghan Raftery earned her Mental Health First Aid certification and reflects on how the training reframes teaching as an act of care and belonging.
- [Building Successful Communities of Practice Course](https://meghanraftery.com/building-successful-communities-of-practice-course/) — 2025-09-23: Meghan Raftery completed a course on building communities of practice and shares insights on member roles, shared purpose, and keeping communities alive.
- [Edjacent: Empowering Educators, Changemakers, and Edupreneurs](https://meghanraftery.com/edjacent/) — 2025-08-06: Edjacent is a design collaborative for educators, changemakers, and micro-business owners offering coaching, tools, and community for innovation.
- [My Favorite Books](https://meghanraftery.com/favorite-books/) — 2025-09-10: Meghan Raftery's four most impactful books, including 'The Overstory' by Richard Powers and 'Anne of Green Gables' by L.M. Montgomery.

## Categories
- [Best Posts](https://meghanraftery.com/category/best-posts/): A curated start-here set of Meghan's best writing on education design, community, and the books at the heart of her work.
- [General](https://meghanraftery.com/category/general/): RFPs, cocktail parties, conferences, and everything else that doesn't slot into books or education. The mix is the point. "Save the Date: $3.5M RFP launching Jan 8, 2026" is for anyone working in K-12, higher education, or workforce development who's trying to make learning, credentials, or work-based experiences count beyond their own system. If that's you, this RFP matters.
- [Education](https://meghanraftery.com/category/education/): I work in education and write about it here. Mental health in schools, communities of practice, and supporting educators who want to do things differently. "Why Mental Health First Aid Belongs in Every Educator's Toolkit" is about how a simple certification reshaped the way I see care, connection, and belonging in schools. It changed my perspective more than I expected.
- [Books](https://meghanraftery.com/category/books/): I love books, and this is where I write about the ones that earned my attention. Recommendations, favorites, and what made certain reads stand out. "5 Books That Earned My 5 Stars" is about my rating system and what it takes for a book to get a perfect score. A 5-star book did something special, and I explain what that means to me.