As we kick off this holiday season of joy and hope, one of my biggest wishes is that I didn't have to focus on the continuing crisis in public education.

I am grateful for the attention that TAF and projects like Waiting for "Superman" bring to the need for transforming public schools. It seems like we have a herculean task in front of us. Believe me, some days it definitely feels like too much to bear. But then I see examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to solve the education problem.

So this season, I'd like to focus on little things that can create big, positive change by asking "Who are you waiting for?" What if there was a Superman in each of us?

Here's a really simple example. TAF is being honored as part of the grand opening of the first Microsoft Store in Seattle next week. During the Week of Thanks, we have the opportunity to earn up to $10,000 towards software and other computer equipment for TAF classrooms.

There are two easy ways you can help get us there:

• Go online to vote - Log on to Facebook between 11/19 and 11/26. Each vote for TAF earns us $20.
• Go to the Microsoft Store at Bellevue Square on November 24 - How often do you get to raise money just by playing with cool stuff like the Xbox Kinect and  Microsoft Surface? Seriously, it's that easy. One day only. Each store visitor can earn up to $15 for TAF.

If you are on the Eastside next Wednesday, I hope you'll stop by.

Now back to our extraordinary kids. I'm always amazed at the depth of investigation that goes into TechStart projects. This fall, the project our middle school students are working on takes Authentic Intellectual Work to a whole new level. It combines engineering, urban planning, architecture, 3D modeling and community service.

The guiding question for these 25 students is, "Can we design a facility that encourages a positive, healthy and productive community?"

They started by visiting an empty lot near TAF's offices in Rainier Valley. Next, they met with local business owners and architects to determine how the empty lot should be developed. Over the next few months, they will create their proposal. It could be a park, a community center, a strip of retail stores or housing for low-income neighbors.

These TechStart students are going through the same processes that any adult would if they wanted to develop the property. In class, they are using Google SketchUp to create a 3D model of their plans. Along the way, they are learning a lot about project management, architectural design principles, group processes, problem solving and community engagement.

In the end, wouldn't it be great if students could submit their vision for the space to local officials? (Truth be told, there was a call for proposals on this property, but we missed the opportunity by a few months.)

If you would like to see the students' designs take shape, e-mail us today about visiting the TechStart classroom. I will also try to bring you updates in this newsletter.

Enjoy the holiday break next week. And I hope you will take the opportunity this season to do your own extraordinary thing for education.