Making School a Game Worth Playing

The eldest of four children, Luis de la Fuente was born in Yreka, a small town in the Northern California mountains. He attended public school in the Yreka Union School District, where he excelled with the support of his engaged parents and some great teachers. His interest in improving the educational system sparked when he partnered with elementary school teachers who struggled with getting second-graders of varying skill levels excited about science in a rigid school setting.

Luis currently leads The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation’s efforts to transform today’s classrooms into personalized learning environments that enable the best of teaching with the best of technology. In that capacity, he works with educators and entrepreneurs to support innovative, break-the-mold ideas with the potential to radically improve K-12 public education. Luis has a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in developmental biology from the University of California, San Francisco.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)