Education Grant Recipients

2019 Recipients

Lindsey Bradshaw

HSE Intermediate Junior High School
Purchased: Science classroom gardening materials

"I love being able to share real-life experiences with my students and, hopefully, teach them a life skill they can use in their lives that deals with science."

Laura Gunderson

Center Grove Middle School Central
Purchased: Level-appropriate novels for novice Spanish students

See Laura's Video

"Every day, I have the unique opportunity to share my passion for Spanish with my students. I can’t think of many other careers that allow you to share your passion with others in the way that teachers share theirs with their students. I get to help students navigate meaning in a language that is new to them. I also get to share the beauty of the Spanish culture that inspired me to learn in the first place. And through my own excitement about our class, I model to my students what it looks like to follow your passion in life. Having a passion for something makes life more meaningful, and so, I love teaching for many reasons, but inspiring my students to find their own passions like I have is definitely at the top of the list!"

Brett Hawkins

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
Purchased: New barred instruments for music class

See Brett's video

"As an educator, I truly get to do what I love. I truly enjoy witnessing the power of music and its impact on students. Seeing them develop a love and knowledge of music in the years they are with me is truly special. I also enjoy exposing my students to many different types of music around the world, which reminds them of diversity and other genres out there."

Amanda Kammer

Franklin Township Middle School West
Purchased: Pickleball paddles, nets and balls for PE class

"The best part of my job as a PE teacher is seeing the kids who think they can't be successful in the gym find success each and every day. I also love being able to expose my students to games and activities, like pickleball, that they can play for a lifetime."

Norman Leonard

Pike High School
Purchased: Water bottle filling stations in hallway

See Norman's video

"I love helping students reach their goals and encouraging them to push themselves to get better daily. I also love challenging their thinking, offering broader perspectives and deeper understandings, and then seeing paradigm shifts that will lead to future improvement and success in their lives."

Amy Mohl

Speedway High School
Purchased: Korg Krome EX88 Synthesizer Keyboard

"It makes my heart happy to see students achieve success through our rehearsals and individual practice. I spend a lot of time with the students as a music teacher, and they are the reason I love coming to my job every day. They continually impress me, and I am so proud of what they accomplish from year to year."

Bruce Nelson

Indian Creek Elementary School
Purchased: STEM 3D pens and accessory kit

See Bruce's Video

"Since I first started teaching, I have always enjoyed watching the students when they reach an understanding – the "Aha!" moment. In my current position, I get to see that almost on a daily basis as students from 1st through 6th grade work on a variety of projects that begin with students saying, "That's too hard," and ending with massive grins as they persevere through to a solution."

Daniel Ng

Thomas Gregg Neighborhood School
Purchased: Global art exchange initiative

See Daniel's Video

"As a teacher, I'm most excited about the shared learning experience. I became a teacher because I wanted to share my love of creating with students. I feel that the visual arts have a rich benefit for students’ academic and social-emotional growth. In this journey, I'm learning new things as well. Oftentimes, I make new discoveries alongside my students."

Sheryl Niccum

Guerin Catholic High School
Purchased: Alternative classroom seating

"I love that I have the opportunity to make a positive difference in my students' lives on a daily basis."

Melanie Nobbe

New Palestine Junior High
Purchased: Gimkit live learning game

"Every day is a new adventure with adolescents. While it is an admittedly awkward and unsettling time of growth in their lives, the greatest moments are when I see my students become "comfortable in their own skin." As they begin to recognize their strengths, their interests, and their niche, it's exciting to see their transformation. Too often, adolescents are blind to their abilities by perceived inadequacies and insecurities. Fostering opportunities for them to see themselves as I do, as unique and specially gifted, is often a game-changer."

Katie Norton

Southeastern Elementary School
Purchased: Outdoor play equipment

See Katie's Video

"I love finding what my students are interested in and finding ways to incorporate the standards. I love being outside and playing with my students. As a kindergarten teacher, I get to see so much growth! It's amazing how much my students learn throughout the year!"

Elaine Oldham

Washington Woods Elementary School
Purchased: Book Fairy book program

"Social-Emotional Learning is a big component of our school’s philosophy, and we strive to empower the students to be advocates and future leaders. Seeing the impact this program has made on our students is so inspiring. Coming to school each morning is not a job for me. It is a privilege."

Kay Schrage

Stony Creek Elementary School
Purchased: Osmo Explorer Kits

"I love my students! I love the relationships I form with them and their families and the impact I can make during the 180 days I get to spend with them."

Jessica Smith

Lew Wallace 107
Purchased: Modernize school library with culturally responsive books

"I love working with students who don't have everything. My students come from broken homes, many are refugees and almost none look like me. They are my heart. They are why I was born. I want them to have the brightest future possible. I believe in them. My favorite quote that keeps me going is, 'God does not place brains in kids' heads based on their zip codes.'"

Erin Stevens

JB Stephens Elementary School
Purchased: Badminton Class Pack for PE class

"I am very passionate about Wellness. I love being able to teach students new sports and games and to love being active. I believe that elementary physical education is the cornerstone of Wellness in our community."

Lisa Thresh

Pleasant Run Elementary School
Purchased: Sensory pathways

"One of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher is meeting students where they are academically, socially and emotionally, and then helping them grow. Watching students become more confident in their abilities is amazing. Social and emotional skills are qualities that will help them throughout their entire lives. Those "lessons" are just as important as the academic lessons."

Miranda Vaiagae

Southwest Elementary School
Purchased: Math stackers

"I love teaching kindergarten! Most students come in without a lot of exposure to letters and numbers, and yet they are so eager to learn. The growth I see throughout the year is incredible. We are working and learning as a team, and they teach me just as much as I teach them. The best thing about my work is that it has a purpose, and I know what I do every day is making a difference!"

Previous Education Grant Winners

2018 Recipients

Erin Amones New Palestine Junior High School Purchased: Social thinking curriculum	Melissa Bardack Center Grove High School Purchased: Supplies and computer to help with 3D printer design
Stephanie Basile Raymond F. Brandes School Purchased: 30 seat sacks	Edward Berry Franklin Central High School Purchased: Rebranding of business department coffee shop
David Culley Noblesville West Middle School Purchased: Chinese calligraphy supplies	Veronica Curtis Franklin Township Middle School East Purchased: Metal baskets for student desks
Deborah Huffine Guion Creek Middle School Purchased: Gladiator ready-to-assemble, hardwood top workbench	Jennifer Leavell Mt. Vernon High School Purchased: High-interest books for 9–12 classroom
Nicole Little Mary Bryan Elementary School Purchased: Sets of chapter books and bins to store the books	Megan Mathew Hamilton Heights Middle School Purchased: Heartrate monitors and software with licensing
Ann Mennonno Clarks Creek Elementary School Purchased: Makerspace project cart, fully loaded	Angel Myers New Britton Elementary School Purchased: Project Lead the Way launch program modules
Angela Roamer Avon Intermediate School East Purchased: Upkeep with classroom cellos and basses	Danielle Thompson Fall Creek Elementary School Purchased: Outdoor sensory wall
Robert Walls Kitley Elementary Purchased: New Young Hoosier books	Nicole Walters White River Elementary School Purchased: Additional books for the classroom that show diverse cultures
Kerri Wood Belzer Middle School Purchased: Cross-curricular STEM project

2017 Recipients

Chris Atkinson Cherry Tree Elementary School Purchased: 3D Printer for school’s Makerspace	Andrew Brinkman North Central High School Purchased: Music composition and analysis software program
Matthew Goddard Holy Angels Catholic School Purchased: 12 World Music drumming kits	Sarah Cannon Eastridge Elementary School Purchased: Learning rug, outdoor picnic supplies and exercise games
Courtney Chamberlin North Elementary School Purchased: Research-based leveled textbooks for the library	Kristen Fern Super School #19 Purchased: Art and clay making supplies
Miranda Fikes Rosa Parks Kindergarten Academy Purchased: Reading and world-building manipulatives	Kurt Freytag Lawrence Central High School Purchased: IHSAA basketball and cold-weather gear
Todd Hagemeier Westfield Middle School Purchased: 10 disc golf baskets and disc sets	Greg McCord HSE Junior High School Purchased: Maglev track and materials for engineering design processes
Kevin Morse Westfield High School Purchased: Lab technology for science classrooms	Amber Ploutz V.O. Isom Elementary School Purchased: Drama club supplies and costumes
Jennifer Spoor Reagan Elementary School Purchased: 6 Kore Patented WOBBLE Chairs	Amanda Stinnett Pleasant Crossing Elementary School Purchased: 24 stability ball chairs
Leah Trigg Avon High Schools Purchased: Keyboard piano and bench for school choir	Dawn Walker-Seyerle Arsenal Technical High School Purchased: Class set of the book "Everything You Need to Ace American History in One Big Fat Notebook"
Lane Waters Park Tudor Purchased: Picnic tables, watering system and other equipment for outdoor learning community

2016 Recipients

Erin Amones Doe Creek Middle School Purchased: Materials for 7th and 8th grade essential skills classes	Jamie Beck Greenwood Community Schools Purchased: Resources to teach social skills to kindergarten students
Catherine Brinkerhoff Brownsburg East Middle School Purchased: MakerBot STEM supplies including a 3D printer and filament	Douglas Brown Noblesville West Middle School Purchased: Six durable, portable chessboards and pieces to start a school chess club
Cathleen Clady Eleanor Skillen School #34 Purchased: Student classroom books for critical reading and writing	Kathy Drake Pleasant View Elementary School Purchased: Cubelets Creative Constructors Pack of modular click together robots
Melody Gayle Break-O-Day Elementary Purchased: Materials and manipulatives to use at Daily 5 learning stations	Tracie Greene Smoky Row Elementary Purchased: Equabeam tools for math to help students gain number sense
Karen Hovanec Cathedral High School Purchased: Level-appropriate novels for Spanish classes	Kylie Keevy Harshman Middle School Purchased: 50 frogs, 6 fetal pigs and dissections supplies
Jennifer Marlow Carmel High School Purchased: 24 Hanna Instruments’ pH testers	Theresa Mendez Central Catholic School Purchased: A wide range of new books for the school library
Terry Mitchell Guion Creek Intermediate Purchased: Project Lead the Way robotics kits	Nicole Monkul Brooks School Elementary Purchased: STEM design and build engineering centers
Ryan Morphew Options Charter Schools Purchased: Classroom double-sided dry erase boards, markers and erasers	David Nelson Indian Creek Elementary Purchased: Makerspace Pack and materials, including a 3D printer
Carla Redden Stonybrook Middle School Purchased: Science supplies including charts, books and chemicals	Helen Shere Herron High School Purchased: Class set of magnetic models and cell modeling materials
Gwen Wieczorek St. Theodore Guerin High School Purchased: Class set of MiniOne Systems (gel electrophoresis equipment)

2015 Recipients

Vicki Ayres-Benson North Central High School Purchased: Pottery wheel for art class	Kelsey Buckley Zionsville Middle School Purchased: Makerspace for the media center
Bill Buckman Carmel Clay Middle School Purchased: TI Navigator System for calculators	Josh Cecil Noblesville High School Purchased: Classroom cameras for video production
Ashley Connor Sunnyside Elementary, Lawrence Township School Purchased: Independent phonics center during guided reading	Marinda Grove Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Purchased: Homeschool connection lending library
Maureen Hoffman-Wehmeier Greenwood Middle School Purchased: Make My Newspaper design software for school newspaper program	Colleen Ireland Geist Elementary, Hamilton Southeastern Schools Purchased: Math game materials
Adam Jahn Fall Creek Intermediate, Hamilton Southeastern Schools Purchased: Quadcopter drone for computer programming and data analyzation	Kim King Center Grove Elementary Purchased: Guided reading book sets
Jeremy Large New Palestine High School Purchased: Recording equipment to create a recording studio	Christine Miller Shamrock Springs Elementary School Purchased: Physical Education equipment
Barbra Nichols New Augusta North, Pike Township Schools Purchased: Math classroom manipulatives	Alexandra Tubbs Thompson Crossing Elementary, Franklin Township Schools Purchased: GAMEPLAN Curriculum books, charts, visuals and classroom set manipulatives
Kim Ward SUPER School #19, Indianapolis Public Schools Purchased: Action Based Learning Lab math games, manipulatives and Math & Movement colorful mats

2014 Recipients

Jessica Belton Avon High School Purchased: Thermal cycler for DNA hands-on student activities	Clara Crosby Arlington Elementary, Franklin Township Schools Purchased: Creation of a classroom reading center and library
Valerie Ferry Carey Ridge Elementary, Westfield Washington Schools Purchased: A Copernicus reading and writing center for large group instruction.	Kristin Hancock GW Carver Montessori 87, Indianapolis Public Schools Purchased: Picnic tables to turn the school's learning garden into an outdoor classroom
Craig Helming Noblesville High School Purchased: Supplies to introduce students to the craft of woodworking	Amanda Holland Mt. Comfort Elementary, Mt. Vernon Schools Purchased: Interactive learning tools for the classroom smartboard
Kendra Kidwell Abraham Lincoln Elementary, Perry Township Schools Purchased: Classroom supplies including a color-coded rug and student storage sacks	Laura LaCross Riverside Intermediate School, Hamilton Southeastern Schools Purchased: Robotic kits to augment STEM learning
Kelly Looper Guion Creek Middle School, Pike Township Schools Purchased: Books for summer reading	Terri Perkins Francis Bellamy 102, Indianapolis Public Schools Purchased: Character education program to teach prosocial skills to preschool children
Regina Rexrode Stony Creek Elementary, Noblesville Schools Purchased: Broadcast software for the daily student school newscast	Christina Riley Options Charter School, Carmel Purchased: School-wide initiatives focused on team building, leadership and stress relief
Josh Torres Center Grove High School Purchased: A lead pan and set of double seconds to support diverse music education	Danielle Traphagan New Augusta North, Pike Township Schools Purchased: Magellan eXplorist GPS tools to support modern geography and spatial thinking education
Brenda Walde Mary Bryan Elementary and Southport Elementary, Perry Township Schools Purchased: Assessment software used to identify students in need of special services

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