Alongside my professional work, I serve as a volunteer member of the Board of Directors for Edheads, an educational nonprofit that has reached millions of K-12 students by helping them “test drive” STEM careers through interactive learning experiences. Edheads doesn’t just deliver curriculum reinforcement — it helps shape career aspirations, connecting classroom learning with real-world science, technology, engineering, and math professions.
As part of my board involvement, I led the creation of a new website and digital platform to replace their aging system after a serious security incident. The goal was to rebuild the organization’s digital presence in a way that prioritized safety, scalability, and content creation — while supporting the interactive learning model at the heart of their mission.
What I Built
The platform is:
- WordPress-based
- Powered by a fully custom theme
- Designed on a modular architecture for future upgrades
- Built with security-first principles
- Fully mobile responsive
- Equipped with advanced search and filtering tools
- Capable of delivering both:
- Public-facing interactive learning games
- Teacher-restricted answer guides and support materials
This structure ensures accessibility for students and educators while protecting instructional resources appropriately.
Security & Resilience
Given the issues experienced on the previous site, security was a primary design driver. The rebuild emphasized:
- Hardened access controls
- Modern authentication and permission structures
- Up-to-date, maintainable infrastructure
- Reduced exposure to legacy vulnerabilities
- Rolling, automated backups (on- and offline)
The result is a platform the organization can confidently operate, maintain, and expand.
Interactive Learning with H5P
A major capability I implemented was native integration of H5P dynamic content tools, enabling rapid creation of interactive educational experiences directly in the browser.
H5P allows educators and creators to build rich HTML5-based learning content such as:
- Interactive videos and presentations
- Branching scenario learning paths
- Quizzes, flashcards, and games
- Image hotspot explorations
- Drag-and-drop and sequencing activities
- Virtual tours and simulations
Because H5P content is reusable, portable, and mobile-friendly, it significantly reduces production time while maintaining high engagement. It also enables non-developers to author meaningful interactive experiences without needing programming expertise.
Why This Work Matters
Edheads has decades of research demonstrating the effectiveness of its approach — and countless STEM professionals trace their early curiosity back to interacting with its content as students.
Rebuilding the platform wasn’t just a technical exercise. It helped ensure:
- Continued reach to students nationwide
- Easier creation of future educational experiences
- Secure delivery of learning tools
- Long-term sustainability of the organization’s digital presence
By contributing this work as a volunteer board member, I was able to apply my professional expertise toward a mission I believe in — supporting an organization that doesn’t just deliver content, but helps nurture futures in STEM.
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