Mission and Vision
Empowering Teachers, Schools, and Districts in a Rapidly Changing World
Our Efforts: The Center for Excellence @ New Tech High is part of the 501(c)3 Friends of New Tech (FONT).
We specialize in customizable PBL and High Impact Teaching professional development designed in partnership with schools, not delivered to them. In a world where learning needs, student needs, and workforce demands change rapidly, FONT works side-by-side through our Center for Excellence (CFE) training program with educators to build meaningful, student-centered learning that lasts.
As a 100% public school in Napa Valley Unified School District, New Technology High School is funded with the same formula as other public schools in the district. The fundraising undertaken by the Friends of New Tech helps close the gap between public funds and what it takes to run a nationally recognized high school.
Our Vision
To empower educators with effective, research based instructional routines within various pedagogies that foster responsible, resilient, and personally successful students, creating learning environments that adapt to an ever-changing world.
Our Mission
To partner with schools, districts and educational organizations to deliver customized professional learning in Project-Based Learning and the implementation of High Impact Teaching, cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, and student-centered learning.
Why FONT and Center for Excellence?
Since 2008, FONT has been the exclusive provider of the Center for Excellence (CFE) training program, an immersive, research-based model rooted in nearly 30 years of daily PBL implementation at New Technology High School in Napa, California. Unlike organizations that teach theory from a distance, our training comes from lived experience: we do PBL every day with our students and continuously refine our practices based on real classroom realities.
As one of the longest-standing PBL implementation sites in the nation, FONT is uniquely positioned to help schools redesign learning for relevance, rigor, and student ownership of learning. We support systems of all sizes, from individual schools to multi-district initiatives, to build sustainable, scalable models of high-quality teaching and learning.
Our Belief
All students deserve a relevant, engaging, and future-ready education. We believe PBL, supported by proven High Impact Teaching strategies, is one of the strongest vehicles to ensure that all students learn deeply and grow as critical thinkers, problem solvers, and resilient human beings.
Our Approach
We don’t deliver a one-size-fits-all training model. We listen, customize, and co-design with our partners. Whether a school is just beginning PBL or refining long-standing systems, we build training around real goals, local context, and ongoing support, not one-off workshops.
Global Impact
FONT has supported more than 100 schools across the United States and internationally, partnering with systems in Denmark, Peru, Brazil, Korea, Australia, China, Ireland, Israel, and Indonesia. With a 98% satisfaction rate and a history of measurable results, FONT remains on the forefront of successful, sustainable, school-wide PBL implementation.
Funding Efforts
The Center for Excellence @ New Tech High is one fundraising component of the Friends of New Tech. All of the funds raised via the CFE go directly back to the sustainability of a training program that works with 1,500+ educators a year AND to enhance student experiences at New Technology High School. Some key programatic elements that the Center for Excellence has supported are: