Latest Grants Awarded

ZEF 2025 Fall Grants Announced

The Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) has awarded $25,910.29 in classroom grants to educators at Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) this Fall, providing funding for 10 innovative projects that will enrich academic experiences for students across the district. We would like to thank the Duke Energy Foundation and the Community Foundation of Boone County for their steadfast support of ZEF and, specifically, this grant cycle.

From forensic science labs and literacy enrichment to robotics, makerspaces, and student-run businesses, the Fall 2025 grants support ZCS teachers in bringing creative, hands-on learning to life. These grants are made possible through generous contributions from local donors and the broader Zionsville community, particularly as we celebrate our 30^th anniversary and $2M milestone in grants funded.

2025 Fall Classroom Grants

Read Richly: Expanding Literacy with Enrichment Resources ($1,804.79)
Krista Westfall – Zionsville Middle School
Books purchased through this grant will enhance ZMS’s literacy curriculum, deepening student understanding of key themes while fostering critical thinking, comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading.

Hands-On Physics for All ($5,400)
Matthew Mulholland – Zionsville Community High School
A grant will provide new lab and demonstration equipment to revitalize the physics portion of the ICP (Integrated Chemistry-Physics) course, bringing authentic experimentation and STEM engagement to over 500 students annually.

ZWest Brew Crew ($1,516)
Sarah Livengood, Emma Huhta, Kristi Godfrey – Zionsville West Middle School
This grant supports a student-run coffee business in the functional academics classroom, giving students real-world opportunities to practice communication, teamwork, and life skills.

Maker Space Expansion at ZWest ($5,148)
Michael DeLand, Michael Murphy – Zionsville West Middle School
A grant will expand the ZWMS makerspace with modern fabrication tools, benefiting 900+ students across PLTW, student clubs, and interdisciplinary projects.

From Blood Spatter to Bones: Equipping the Next Generation of Forensic Scientists ($2,500)
Dawn Makley, Stephanie Dudley – Zionsville Community High School
With this grant, ZCHS forensics teachers will introduce new units and hands-on crime scene investigations, giving students immersive experiences in forensic science.

Robotics and Coding In and Out of the Classroom ($2,649.99)
Michael Murphy, Michael DeLand – Zionsville West Middle School
A grant will expand access to VEX IQ kits, enabling more students to engage in robotics, engineering, and coding through both classes and extracurricular clubs.

“Disc”covery with ZWMS PE ($2,534,51)
Trisha Smart, Kristina Comer, Steve Simmons, Whit Keadle – Zionsville West Middle School
This grant will fund durable frisbee golf equipment, helping students build coordination, strategic thinking, and lifelong fitness habits in a fun, inclusive environment.

Art REDEFINING Disability: Artist in Residence ($1,800)
Jen Gibson, Jill Phipps – Zionsville Middle School
In partnership with ZWEST and Indianapolis nonprofit ArtMix, this grant will support an artist residency that engages life skills and functional academics students in adaptive, hands-on art experiences.

Hands-On Science: Building Understanding Through Interactive Learning ($1,800)
Jessie Showalter – Zionsville Community High School
With this grant, ZCHS will add manipulatives and materials that support inquiry-based learning across biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physical sciences.

Adding Color to STEM ($757)
Andy Seward, Terry Rowe, Gary Werner – Zionsville Middle School
This grant will provide a color printer and digital camera to enhance student documentation and presentation in PLTW and Robotics programs.

Total 2025 Fall Classroom Grants Awarded: $25,910.29
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2025 Imagine Professional Development Grants

Julia Cassel, Katie Sarpa, Lisa Mueller, Chelle Smitson, Emily Sigmund, & Emily Parker – Trailside Elementary School ($8,932.32)
Arts Integration and STEAM Conference
A Trailside Elementary team of K-4 teachers will attend the Arts Integration and STEAM Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. They will learn new teaching strategies, bring back innovative practices for a positive impact on students, and share knowledge with their school community.

Christopher Hindsley – Zionsville West Middle School ($1,890)
Collaboration & Community: Attending the 2025 ACTFL Annual Convention & World Language Expo
Provides the opportunity for Christopher Hindsley to attend the American Council on the Teachers of Foreign Languages Annual Convention and World Language Expo held in New Orleans, Louisiana. He will have the opportunity to network with fellow world language educators, to further develop teaching techniques and practices, and to reflect on current teaching practices.

Laura Dyer and Avory Freund – Zionsville West Middle School ($6,000)
Innovate, Navigate, Elevate: Strengthening Our School Counseling Program
School Counselors Laura Dyer and Avory Freund will attend the American School Counselor Association annual conference to explore best practices, resources, and evidence-based materials for enhancing the school counseling program. This four-day event will provide opportunities for professional development, networking, and learning from industry experts.

Katie Gordon, Shawn Wooden, Ramsay West, Mitzi Macaluso, Craig Callahan, and Blair Williams – Zionsville West Middle School and Zionsville Middle School ($10,321.20)
Leading the Middle Way: Empowering Teacher Leaders for Student Success
Teacher leaders from both Zionsville Middle School and Zionsville West Middle School will participate in the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. This conference is the only one dedicated to advancing best practices in middle-level education. It will provide valuable opportunities to enhance instructional leadership skills, engage with the latest research in middle-level education, and bring back innovative strategies to support both schools and students.

Meagan Brown, Will Doublestein, Rebecca Hampton, Lauryn Tooley, Andie Wentz, Emily Zucker – All ZCS Elementary Schools ($9,040)
American Orff-Schulwerk Association Conference
The ZCS elementary music team will participate in the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) conference in Lexington, Kentucky to enhance elementary music education for all ZCS students in kindergarten through fourth grade. The conference will help deepen pedagogical knowledge, provide hands-on learning, give exposure to new resources, and advance team cohesion. By engaging with leading music educators, they will acquire new techniques and processes to improve instruction and maximize the use of their high-quality instruments and resources.

Susanna Outcelt – – Zionsville Community High School ($3,000)
Camryn Bader – Zionsville Community High School ($3,000)
Building Thinking Classrooms Annual Conference
Attendance at the Building Thinking Classrooms Annual Conference will provide these high school math educators the opportunity to learn more about desired instructional strategies researched in Peter Liljedahl’s book Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics. The conference includes many strands of professional development including sessions on fostering leadership and community, launch practices, cultivating leadership, and assessment practices in Building Thinking Classrooms.

Candi Granlund – Zionsville West Middle School ($3,000)
World Adult Wind Orchestra Project
This professional development project is a one-week immersive experience in the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria. Ms. Granlund auditioned for the opportunity by submitting playing samples showcasing her skills on the bassoon. She will rehearse and perform alongside top conductors and musicians from around the world at the Mid-Europe Music Festival. The experience will help enhance her musical skills and participate in a group of musicians from diverse backgrounds and languages gathered to communicate and connect through their mutual love for music.

Sharon Davidson – Eagle Elementary ($3,000)
Immersed in Spanish
This grant provides the opportunity to participate in the Agualivar Spanish Immersion School, a full immersion Spanish language program and homestay in a small, rural town in Spain. The experience includes living with local teachers, 3 hours of personalized Spanish classes each day, and experiencing the cultural aspects of the area. Ms. Davidson will improve all aspects of her Spanish language, engage in authentic experiences in a small town, and gain perspective on how it feels to truly be immersed in a language and culture.

Total 2025 Imagine Professional Development Grants Awarded: $48,183.52