After spending the latter part of this past school year supporting our students as a substitute, we’re excited to welcome Todd Valentine to our full-time Ravens’ teaching team! Todd brings a vibrant blend of science expertise, humor, and heartfelt connection to his work with students, and he’s deeply committed to helping neurodiverse learners discover their potential.
A Childhood Fueled by Dinosaurs, Video Games, and British Comedy
Todd grew up in the Bay Area, born in Cupertino and raised in San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Fremont. From a young age, he was captivated by animals and science. “I would check out the same book on animals from the library week after week,” he recalls. His love of dinosaurs only deepened when Jurassic Park hit theaters when he was eight.
Todd was raised primarily by his mom and British grandparents, whose influence still shows up in his love of tea, British comedy, and dry humor. “My grandpa was the target audience for Benny Hill,” he jokes. “And I like to say that The Simpsons did as much to raise me as anyone!”
His early years were filled with soccer, Sega, Super Nintendo, and long afternoons with neighborhood friends in their mobile home community. Even with the periodic moves around the Bay, Todd found friendships through playing football and a growing love for punk music (e.g., Jimmy Eat World, Jawbreaker, Texas is the Reason, Rites of Spring, and Anti-Flag). “I really prided myself in liking obscure, very thoughtful, very lyrical music,” he recalls.
Discovering Science (and Himself) in College
After graduating from high school where he jokingly aspired to become either a voice actor on The Simpsons or a nuclear safety technician (like Homer), Todd enrolled at Ohlone College with a group of friends. Here he slowly began finding his academic footing. A geology class with Dr. Belasky changed everything. “The way my professor talked about science and history really hooked me,” he says. Around the same time, he was exploring the teachings of Carl Sagan. “Sagan became my science hero. I read all of his books and watched Cosmos several times.”
Todd eventually transferred to San Francisco State University and majored in anthropology. “It kept the science but added the human element,” he explains. Throughout college, he worked retail and was the dependable driver for friends and family—“I was Uber before Uber”—earning extra money and plenty of trust along the way.
From the 49ers to the Classroom
After college, Todd began volunteering with the Oakland Zoo and Chabot Space & Science Center, helping kids engage with science in hands-on ways. That experience sparked a desire to get his Master’s in interdisciplinary education from Santa Clara University and a career in education that would eventually lead him to work with Science is Elementary and become Curriculum Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers STEAM Field Trip Program.
Serving over 60,000 students annually, the 49ers program allowed Todd to blend sports, science, and equity. “Every field trip was free. The team buses picked up the kids. It felt meaningful and cool. I even got to fly first class to Super Bowl LIV!”
When the pandemic hit, Todd and his wife, Bonnie, realized their dream of homeownership meant leaving the Bay Area. After an exploratory trip, they moved to Portland, where Todd continued working remotely for the 49ers, developing STEM lessons as Coach Todd on YouTube. He was also actively involved in the development of the 49ers EDU Digital Playbook. “Being on YouTube gives me a lot of credit with kids,” he laughs.
Prior to joining Bridges, Todd was the P.E. collaborator at KairosPDX for three years. In this role, he created and implemented his own curriculum for K-5 students that incorporated the school’s values.
Why Bridges Felt Like the Right Fit
“What really attracted me to Bridges is that the school works with marginalized students,” Todd shares. “I’m passionate about equity, inclusion, and supporting kids who may feel overlooked in traditional settings. I want them to see that their interests and strengths matter.”
Todd knows what it’s like to coast through school without direction. He wants to help students connect their passions to potential careers and futures. “It’s fun for me to brainstorm with kids about what roles might be a good fit for them. I want to help them realize they don’t have to wait as long as I did to find their purpose.”
Big Goals, Big Heart
Todd is excited to bring his love of science—and his knack for making it accessible—to the Bridges community. “I want to make STEM fun, exciting, and meaningful for all students,” he says.
One of his goals is to introduce a unit on consent and boundaries as a preview to sex education. “These conversations are important, and I want students to feel empowered and informed.”
Life Outside the Classroom
Todd lives in Portland’s Laurelhurst neighborhood with Bonnie and their two kids: Adam, a film and music enthusiast, and Rosalind, a visual artist, soccer player, and potential future engineer. The Valentines enjoy movies at the Hollywood Theatre, Thorns games, and discovering new museums together.
Todd is also active in local politics and volunteers with movements that align with his values, including anti-war activism, feminism, environmental sustainability, and building a more equitable system through fair taxation. “I love creating,” he says—whether it’s curriculum, community, or connection.
