We deepen the power of a story

and believe in the power of education to advance equity for all people.

Blueshift Education is a woman-owned impact educational studio developing film-tailored curriculum, guides, advocacy toolkits, and interactive platforms since 2015. Our work equips documentary film teams, impact producers, public television, non-profit organizations, and educational initiatives with the tools needed to deepen knowledge and empower action. 

With over 30 years of experience in education and social justice work, and more than 130 projects under our belt, we are steadfast in our commitment to justice work and passionate about the power of social issue storytelling to build greater capacity for the greater good in classrooms and communities worldwide.

*The term Blueshift originates in astronomy to explain how light wavelengths increase in frequency as they move closer to the observer. We draw inspiration from this phenomenon to bring stories closer to people’s lives to empower, inspire, and inform.

CHECK OUT OUR TESTIMONIALS
Romeo is Bleeding, our first project

We are…

  • Independent
  • Passionate about storytelling
  • Responsive, collaborative, creative, detail-oriented, rigorous, and reliable
  • Committed to ending white supremacy, gender discrimination, religious persecution, and economic inequities
  • Big believers in the enduring power of education to change the world

Fran Sterling – Director

As Co-Founder of Blueshift Education in 2015, I combined my commitment and education experience with my passion for justice work. I believe storytelling and education are among the most effective tools to increase the capacity for change. Alongside Blueshift projects, I am Director of Education for Life Stories, a non-profit that creates and distributes documentary films and educational resources about people whose lives inspire meaningful change. I began my career as a History and Civics teacher in middle and high school for over a decade before working for the international education non-profit Facing History and Ourselves as a regional director, curriculum writer, and facilitator of professional development and community conversations for over fifteen years.

Outside of work, I travel whenever possible, spend time in Colorado’s mountains with my family, garden, read, and love to cook. I received a degree in Politics from Mount Holyoke College, a Master’s Degree in Education/Curriculum and Design from the University of Colorado, and a diploma in Jewish Studies from the Oxford Center for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, and completed my PhD coursework in Cultural Studies from Claremont Graduate School.

Colleagues & Consultants

Olivia Klaus, Designer

Olivia at OrangeStatic is our design partner, designing most of our deliverables for Blueshift since we began in 2015. We love her eye and her responsiveness to the fine art of translating content to visual mediums, including print and online.

Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Writer

Michelle worked as the ED of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) from September 2012 – March 2025 and is now working independently, writing and creating curricular materials, teaching, and conducting workshops.

Jen Sarché, Writer/Co-Founder

Jen’s background is in public health and cross-community communication. She worked for the San Francisco Department of Public Health and as Co-Executive Director of Building Bridges. Today, she leads Jen Sarché Communication.