Clare Bhakta - Executive Director
Clare Bhakta is a dedicated educator, inquisitive tinkerer, and committed parent striving to contribute to a better world. With experience teaching STEAM subjects ranging from preschool to college level, she has successfully implemented her curriculum in diverse educational settings, including classrooms, summer and after-school programs, as well as museums and libraries.
In her pursuit of excellence, Clare Bhakta took a temporary hiatus from local teaching endeavors to join the Lemelson MIT invention education team from 2020 to 2022. During this period, she refined her skills as a curriculum designer, facilitator, and coach, providing invaluable support to teachers and schools in implementing invention education. Clare has authored two California A-G courses in invention—“Inventing Smart Objects” for the Lodi Unified CTE computer science program and “Inventing Smart Solutions” for the Lemelson MIT program, the latter of which received approval as a D-level lab science course. She supported the first instructor who piloted the year-long, in-school invention curriculum in Woodland, CA, during the 2022-2023 school year.
As an innovator, Clare employs a unique blend of art, science, and soil in her work. With a background as a former master gardener and art professor, she has a hands-on approach to problem-solving. Clare is the creative mind behind the Ninja Panda workshop, serving as a prototype for the larger community innovation center plans. Leveraging technologies such as 3D printing, small-scale CNC, and laser cutting, along with a diverse collection of tools and resources, she tackles everyday challenges.
