D58 Education Foundation awards more than $30K in grants

The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 will fund 28 teacher grants totaling more than $30,000 through its 2024-25 Teacher Grants Program. The foundation annually awards grants to teachers and staff for projects that support student learning.

District 58 teachers and staff submitted their grant applications this fall. The foundation selected projects that showed strong potential to impact instruction using innovative tools and/or techniques.

The recipients of the 2024-25 Education Foundation Teacher Grants are:

• Alyssa Reinholz, Fairmount Elementary School, “Sensory and Social Emotional Learning Tools”
• Ashley Honn, Henry Puffer Elementary School, “Accessible Picture Books Display”
• Janette Richelia, Crystal MacNamara and Natalie Cramarosso, Pierce Downer Elementary School, “Playful Connections: Enhancing Play Skills through Dramatic Play”
• Katie Porter, Whittier Elementary School, “Regulation and Break Tools”
• Rachel Katoll, Katelyn Morgan and Kayla Kinder, O’Neill Middle School, “Calming Corner”
• Christine Kaminski, O’Neill/District Band Program, “F Attachment Trombone for Band”
• Stacie Hamilton, Indian Trail Elementary School, “Makerspace STEM/SEL Kits”
• Kyle Winter, Joe Perillo and Whitney Cavanagh, All District 58 Schools, “Flying Birdies”
• Janet Hecht, O’Neill Middle School, “Green Screen for Creative Learning”
• Anna Trippiedi, Highland Elementary School, “Flexible Seating”
• Colleen Brejcha, Fairmount Elementary School, “Cow Eye Dissection”
• Amanda Zimolzak, El Sierra Elementary School, “Game and Manipulatives to Engage Students in Math”
• Sandi Hudecek and Kylee Grady, Highland Elementary School, “All Feelings are OK… It’s What You Do With Them That Matters!”
• Katrina Shenton and Liz Sevilla, Hillcrest and Henry Puffer elementary schools , “Developing 21st Century Skills in the Music Classroom through the Orff Approach”
• Nicole Ferroli, Stephanie Potter and Bernice Homel, O’Neill Junior High, “Enhancing Classroom Libraries to Include Texts Paired with Each of the 6 Unit Themes in CommonLit”
• Chelsea Borchers, Indian Trail Elementary School, “Forward Facing Shelves!”
• Mary Loversky, El Sierra Elementary School, “Let’s Celebrate the Holidays Around the World”
• Kelly Coleman, Whittier Elementary School, “Making the Library More Student-Centered”
• Janet Peters, Indian Trail Elementary School, “You Fly with a Decodable Reader”
• Joan Mommsen, Belle Aire Elementary School, “Reaching Nonfiction Readers”
• Liz Stroud and Marissa Remus, Fairmount Elementary School, “Braille and Beyond”
• Laura Velinske and Leslie Hesterman, Hillcrest Elementary School, “Library Books for DLP”
• Cori Holtze, Highland Elementary School, Sensory Tools for My Classroom and IEP Students
• Jamie Krier, Kingsley Elementary School, “High-Interest Nonfiction Books”
• Jessica Atkins, Steve Siemek, Jill Henry, Beth Jania and Krysta Schoeneker, Herrick Middle School, “Engineering Masterpieces: Building Cardboard Structures with a ChompSaw Maker”
• Katie Gorvett, O’Neill Elementary School, “Pottery Wheel Experience”
• Kelly Bilotta, Pierce Downer Elementary School, “Empowering Engagement: STEAM Resources for Neurodiverse Learners”

This year’s teacher grant recipients also will be recognized at a spring 2025 school board meeting. For more information on the Education Foundation, visit 58foundation.org.