Instructors

Brian Kaplan - Creator of the Mobile Maker Club, Owner​​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​

​

Marin Independent Journal Article:

Marin’s Mobile Maker Man: ‘It’s like a 21st-century shop.’

Novato man turning kids around Marin into makers

https://www.marinij.com/2019/03/23/marins-mobile-maker-man-its-like-21st-century-shop/

​

 I am a lifelong Marin County resident and have owned a contracting business, Kaplan Brothers, for over 20 years. In the later years of my contracting career, I transitioned into education. I was passionate about science and the burgeoning maker movement, and I wanted to share them with kids.

 

I earned my teaching credential from Sonoma State in 2004. That same year, I began teaching at San Domenico School in San Anselmo, where I taught science with a maker component to provide students with a fun, active learning experience.

 

After teaching at San Domenico for 13 years, I created Mobile Maker Club to offer my professional maker expertise to schools, groups, and individuals in grades 3 through 8, providing instruction, workspace, and the necessary tools.

 

My goals are for students to collaborate with peers to complete project steps and to develop valuable life skills and confidence. What they learn in Mobile Maker Club can also offer them insights into future career options.

                                                                                                                                    -Brian Kaplan, Creator of Mobile Maker

​​​​​​​​

Carrie Lewis, Teacher/Maker

​

I grew up in San Francisco and have spent the past 15 years teaching STEM Lab environments with one clear purpose: helping learners see themselves as creators, problem-solvers, and stewards of the world around them.

​

I am currently completing my Doctorate in Education, with research focused on STEM education, STEM identity, and underrepresented learners.  I hold a Master’s degree in Education, specializing in Curriculum and Instructional Design. My work is shaped by a maker mindset, learning by doing, building, testing, and reflecting. I previously served as the Lead Museum Educator at the Museum of Craft and Design, where I designed hands-on learning experiences that connected maker experience, design, and creative thinking.

 

As a Climate Reality Leader trained by Al Gore, I care deeply about caring for the Earth, and it is central to everything I do. Making is not just about tools and materials; it is about agency, responsibility, and imagining better futures.

​

Teaching others to create, explore, and make is where my heart is. Maker learning allows people of all ages to connect learning with purpose, curiosity, and care for the world we share.

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

James Lewis, Maker/Teacher

​

James Lewis, a San Francisco native, is an avid maker who loves teaching, building, and learning alongside others. With a strong interest in engineering, architecture, and hands-on design, James brings curiosity and creativity to every maker experience.

​

He has a deep love for reading, science, and history. He frequently uses books and storytelling to help students understand that design is a process that involves imagination, iteration, problem-solving, and persistence. By connecting to stories and real-world examples, James helps learners see how ideas grow, change, and improve over time.

​

In addition to his work as a maker and educator, James is a baker at a historic bakery in North Beach, San Francisco, where craftsmanship, precision, and tradition are part of daily practice values that strongly align with maker learning.

​

When he’s not building or teaching, James is a devoted fan of the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Golden State Warriors, proudly representing his lifelong connection to the Bay Area.