You can help keep curiosity alive!
Words in the Wild Foundation
The Words in the Wild Foundation exists to amplify the impact of direct service student programs and teacher training and support on children’s literacy outcomes.
Yes, most of the time someone* is footing the bill for most of the cost to directly deliver the programs in a fee-for-service model. We strive to provide broader access by funding sliding scale and pro-bono services.
The Keep Curiosity Alive campaign is focused on where we think our (and your) dollars can make the largest and most long-lasting impact: the Teaching Fellowship. It takes an enormous amount of resources to create, maintain, and grow this robust professional learning experience – far beyond the billable hours that fellows can bill on paid contracts.**
*families, schools, PTAs, libraries districts, federal title funds, and the contracting organizations, etc.
** Having paid professional learning opportunities is not the standard in education, and this is a huge barrier to access for many people.
Meet the Board
Alexis Filippini, PhD | she/her
Dr. Filippini is the founder of Words in the Wild, an elementary school parent, and a reading specialist who prefers to teach in a garden.
Words in the Wild began when Alexis wondered how to get the most wiggly students engaged in intensive structured literacy interventions. In 2013, she piloted a summer camp called Readers and Writers in the Garden (which got rebranded because the kids said it was "too school-y"). Teacher mentoring was always part of the vision, and that first year her co-teacher was an early career special education teacher, who brought as much to the program as he gained. Specifically, he brought a worm bin. On the back of his bicycle. Those worms sparked the curiosity more quickly than Alexis had imagined, and thus began the "learning lab" model of mutual learning and growth with mentors and Fellows.
Alexis has supported children, educators, and families in a variety of roles since 2002, including bilingual reading interventionist, behavioral clinician, special education professor (San Francisco State University) and dean of teaching and learning.
Dr. Filippini earned her MA and PhD degrees in special education with an emphasis in cognitive science from UC Santa Barbara, and a BA in linguistics. She also holds a preliminary Education Specialist Credential: Mild/Moderate Disabilities with English Learner and Autism Authorizations.
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Gretchen Macchiarella Biasotti
MA | SHE/HER
Gretchen’s expertise is on emerging technologies in storytelling, digital journalism, and innovative business models. She is a professor at CSU Northridge, where she teaches Design Thinking in her courses and through applied programs such as the Internal Entrepreneurship desk in student media.
She is also one of our parents, with two curious kids who are huge fans of Words in the Wild, and holds a B.A. in Mass Communications and an M.A. in Digital Journalism and Design.
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Carol Carr
SHE/HER
Carol comes to Words in the Wild with 20 years of experience in nonprofit administration and leadership and a passion for supporting the work of visionaries and program staff who are making a difference in the world. Carol has a B.A. from Western Washington University in Organizational Communications and Political Science, a certificate in FundRaising Management from Indiana University School of Philanthropy and completed post-bacc work at Northern Michigan University in adult learning, training and development. When not poring over spreadsheets and reports, Carol can be found in her garden, hiking with her family or traveling to new places around the globe.
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Annie Crangle
SHE/HER
Annie is a team leader, strategist, and coach. She utilizes her experiences in education, business, and athletics to facilitate inclusive and inspiring strategic planning processes. Her ability to work across sectors and with diverse leaders stems from years of advising social impact organizations and businesses, playing Division I college basketball, and teaching elementary kids.
Annie has worked and consulted in public education as a Teach for America alumnae, former Minneapolis Public School District curriculum and data consultant, and strategic advisor to over thirty public schools across the country, including KIPP St. Louis during their regional expansion.
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Alicia Ostarello
MA | SHE/THEY
Alicia’s writing career spans curriculum development, long-form articles, marketing headlines, zines, teaching composition, and product content (to name a few interesting ways she’s made a living!). She fervently believes in the power of words, and relishes the magic of great sentences and great stories alike. Alicia holds an MA in English and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and currently works as the Head of Content Design at Lyft.
When she’s not thinking about words (and honestly, even when she is), you might find her surfing in Pacifica, cracking open a can of sparkling water, or listening to old episodes of This American Life.
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Make a one time donation
All contributions matter, from $1 - $10,000 (and beyond!). A one-time donation supports a current Teaching Fellow.
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Sponsor a Teaching Fellow
Recurring donations let us know “we can count on this for a sustained period of time,” ensuring support beyond 2026.
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Spread the word
Sharing this campaign with your friends, colleagues, and neighbors helps more than we can say.
Keep curiosity alive.
