20-05-2025
ZEF gifts largest grant cycle in 30 years
Twice per school year, the Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) visits schools across the district with a surprise grant for teachers, coaches and others in the classroom.
This spring, ZEF granted $75,068.33 for 19 different requests at all nine schools. A portion of the funds went toward the classroom, giving teachers the tools they need to create innovative projects and unique experiences such as technology for design and robotics, an outdoor learning program for kindergarteners and graphic novels for multilingual high school students.
For example, teachers Brooke Dobrovodsky and Laurel Pilcher at Union Elementary School received $4,279.50 for books that inspire a lifelong love for reading with genre challenges, game-style competitions and teamwork.
The other portion of funds went toward Imagine Professional Development Grants, sending educators to STEAM conferences, a Spanish language program in Spain and other enrichment opportunities.
School counselors from Zionsville West Middle School, Laura Dyer and Avory Freund, were awarded $6,000 to attend the American School Counselor Association conference to explore best practices and resources.
Six representatives from all Zionsville elementary schools received $9,040 to attend the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) conference in Lexington, Ky., to learn more about hands-on educational opportunities, new resources and team cohesion.
'We would like to offer a special thanks to the Barth Family Fund for their support of this grant cycle and many others. We are grateful for their generosity and for their commitment to ZEF's mission,' ZEF Executive Director Lyle Browne said. 'Their donation combines with the incredible support of our event sponsors and individual donations to provide grants like this to our schools.'
This cycle marked the last one for long-time ZEF board member and Grants Committee Chair Jane Louiso.
'We are grateful for the teachers, administrators, volunteers, donors and staff that make these grants possible,' ZEF Board President Kim Lewis said. 'I would also like to make a special note of Jane's steadfast service on our grants committee. Her passion for ZEF's mission is evident in everything she does. She will pass the baton to Katy Ruhl who will be a fantastic leader along with our other passionate, dedicated committee members.'
Since 1995, ZEF has awarded more than $1.9 million in classroom and professional development grants. For a complete list of awards, visit the website at
