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Pictured L to R: Anne Healy, Chair of Education Foundation Teacher Grants Program; Janet Hecht, O’Neill Music Teacher; Stephanie Potter, O’Neill Language Arts Teacher; Janet Alikpala, Education Foundation Board President; David Olsen, Education Foundation Board Treasurer/Secretary; and Dr. Kevin Russell, Superintendent of Downers Grove Grade School District 58.
The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 is providing 17 teacher grants totaling more than $33,000 for the 2025-26 school year. These grants will give District 58 teachers and staff the resources to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences that directly benefit students.
“On behalf of District 58, I want to thank the Education Foundation for their continued partnership and generosity toward our teachers, staff, and students,” said District 58 Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell. “Our ongoing collaboration directly enhances classroom learning, and this year’s grants will bring innovative and impactful experiences to students across the District.”
Teachers and staff submitted grant applications this fall, which were reviewed through a thorough, blind process by the Foundation’s Grants Committee. The selected projects demonstrate strong potential to enhance instruction through creative approaches and align with the District’s curriculum goals with measurable outcomes.
"For many years, the Education Foundation has been proud to support District 58 and its dedicated educators,” said Anne Healy, Chair of the Education Foundation Teacher Grants Program. “This year, we challenged teachers and staff to think creatively, and their grant proposals demonstrate thoughtful and engaging approaches to the classroom. We are thrilled to help turn these ideas into projects that will directly enrich students’ learning experiences.”
Congratulations to the 2025-26 Education Foundation Teacher Grant Recipients:
- Lauren Gryczewski, Hillcrest: Bringing Life Skills Instruction to Life
- Katie Porter & Kerri Bartkowiak, Whittier: Regulation Tools
- Kate Blackburn, Kingsley: Language Therapy Advance Foundations
- Nicole Kollintzas, Indian Trail: Enhancing Engagement and Learning through Interactive Whiteboard Technology for Students with Autism
- Laura Velinske, Hillcrest: Sensory & Classroom Equipment
- Ana Guihan, El Sierra: Writing Curriculum Books in Spanish
- Janet Hecht & Eareen Yambao, O’Neill: Building a Choral Library for Independent Learning and Practice
- Stephanie Potter, Janet Hecht, Christine Karninski & Evangeline Smith, O’Neill: O’Neill Middle School: Stage Curtain
- Brooke Campbell, Lester: Speech in Motion: A Multisensory, Flexible Learning Space
- Sandi Hudecek, Highland: Leveling the Playing Field – It’s Recess for All!
- Christine Kaminski, O’Neill: Tenor Saxophone for Band
- Katrina Shenton & Bradley Kirby, Belle Aire: Developing 21st Century Skills in the Music Classroom through the Orff Approach
- Liz Sevilla, Fairmount/Kingsley/Henry Puffer: Developing Higher Order Music Skills through the Orff Approach
- Colleen Brejcha, Fairmount: The Eyes Have It: Cow Eye Dissection
- Sarah Chrapkiewicz, Lester: Touch, Move, Learn: Interactive Technology for Today’s PE Classroom
- Lily Ortega, Indian Trail: Breaking Barriers: Empowering Multilingual Students with Translation Tools
- Emma Grisamore, Pierce Downer: Customizable Screen-Free Technology
This year’s teacher grant recipients will also be recognized at a spring 2026 Board of Education meeting.