YES Prep West Secondary teacher Burhanuddin Calcuttawala is heading to Europe this summer, but not for your typical vacation. Thanks to a prestigious grant from Fund for Teachers, Calcuttawala will explore makerspaces across the continent to bring back innovative ideas for hands-on learning to his students in Houston.
Now in his fourth year at YES Prep, Calcuttawala was inspired to apply for the Fund for Teachers grant because of its unique mission to support teacher-designed learning experiences. The organization is the only national nonprofit that empowers PK-12 educators to pursue any topic, anywhere in the world. By trusting teachers as leaders, innovators and changemakers, Fund for Teachers strengthens both classrooms and long-term educator retention.
Empowering Teachers to Learn and Lead
“I was motivated in part by the mission of Fund for Teachers to fund teacher-developed summer learning experiences,” said Calcuttawala. “I am also really motivated to grow as an educator and use my growth to bring positive change to the school environment.”
With an interest in digital fabrication, sparked by a birthday gift of a 3D printer, Calcuttawala is eager to learn from international models of makerspaces—collaborative workspaces stocked with tools and technology for hands-on creation.
Inclusive Innovation in European Makerspaces
“I want to learn how makerspaces welcome new makers into their spaces,” he said. “What kind of workshops do they run? What kind of language works best for newbies? How do you make fancy technology feel accessible?”
He’s especially interested in strategies that make these spaces accessible for all students, including learners who don’t speak the dominant language. His goal is to apply these practices at YES Prep West Secondary by helping create a space where students feel safe and inspired to build and create.
Expanding Electives and Digital Creativity
Calcuttawala envisions a school environment rich in electives that allow students to explore their interests and develop real-world skills. While YES Prep’s current art classes offer a strong foundation in visual creativity, he believes digital fabrication adds a new layer of opportunity, combining engineering, science, and technology in meaningful ways.
“Students should be able to express their curiosity in various ways like writing, doing math, reading about history, painting, dancing, making music, and building things,” he said. “I think digital fabrication is a really engaging way for kids to make functional things.”
Inspiring Student Creators, Not Just Consumers
Beyond academic enrichment, Calcuttawala hopes this experience fosters a mindset shift in his students. Rather than defaulting to consumption, he wants students to become creators.
“I want students to build a closer relationship with the things they consume. Instead of scrolling on Amazon and clicking ‘Buy,’ I want students to stop and think if they can instead make what they’re looking for with their own hands.”
Start Early and Think Big
For other YES Prep educators considering the Fund for Teachers program, Calcuttawala offers this advice: “Start talking to your colleagues, friends and family early. Bounce ideas off of them to crystallize your vision. Also, read through the application sections, so you understand the kinds of things they’re looking for. Give yourself plenty of time to work on it!”
Through this fellowship, Calcuttawala hopes to empower his students with tools, confidence and creativity, building not just projects, but lifelong skills.
We wish Mr. Calcuttawala a transformative journey and can’t wait to see the creativity and innovation he brings back to YES Prep West Secondary.