Celebrating Esther Wojcicki

In April 2025, The MY HERO Project released a workbook to inspire and guide student journalists and filmmakers to use digital media to share their hero stories with the world. The MY HERO Journalism & Filmmaking Workbook contains vital resources from detailed step-by-step instructions to worksheets and examples, providing students with everything they need to create their hero-themed documentary. The book was penned by Jonah Steinhart, with a foreword by renowned global educator, author, and long-time friend of MY HERO, Esther Wojcicki.

Journalism and Filmmaking WorkbookThe MY HERO Project

About Woj

Esther Wojcicki or ‘Woj,’ is a celebrated teacher, author, and advocate for innovative approaches to learning. She’s also a champion of MY HERO, who sponsors the annual ‘WOJ’ Youth Reporter Award at the MY HERO International Film Festival. Wojcicki’s approach to teaching includes three keys — fostering creativity, independence, and critical thinking skills. She has long promoted project-based learning, and empowering students to take ownership of their education. The Journalism Education Program she founded at California’s Palo Alto High School received national acclaim and she has shared her knowledge with teachers and parents in two books. 

In her book Moonshots in Education: Launching Blended Learning in the Classroom, Wojcicki talks about using collective values of Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration and Kindness (TRICK) to help build stimulating learning environments. In How to Raise Healthy and Happy Children: A Guide for Parents, Wojcicki discusses her educational philosophies and how they can be applied to parenting.

Esther Wojcicki, with permissionEsther Wojcicki

San Diego ASU+GSV Summit

On April 9, 2025, Esther Wojcicki was a speaker at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, California—a joint project between Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley that brings together educators, edtech experts and investors interested in funding new educational ventures. 

At the event, Wojcicki shared her thoughts on the future of education and the role of technology in learning. She also discussed ways in which educators can create learning environments that are meaningful and engaging, particularly in the current climate. Woj explained

There’s a great battle being fought about ignorance, intolerance and indifference in this world. It’s happening on a national level. And, unfortunately, we also have an epidemic of kids who are stressed and bored in high school and in elementary school. The epidemic is everywhere.

Wojcicki also shared the Youth Reporter Workbook with her audience, as well as how filmmaking can foster critical learning skills and promote creativity and innovation. “This is a workbook that will help you get all your students to use video to teach critical thinking skills. That’s the number one skill missing in the country today,” she said, adding that, “This is an attempt to teach critical thinking skills to students using something that they all want to use. It’s called their phone.”

About the WOJ Youth Reporter Award

Presented annually by Esther Wojcicki, The WOJ Youth Reporter Award celebrates youth reporters who are creating videos on heroes making a positive difference in their community and the world.