On May 5, the District 45 Foundation for Excellence in Education took its “Big Check Express” on the road, making surprise visits to schools to present Educational Grant awards for the 2025-26 school year. Foundation President Rae Rupp Srch was joined by board members Peg Egan, Linda Nystrom, Ken Hildreth, and Linda Wilson, along with Superintendent Brian Graber, as they personally delivered oversized checks to grant recipients.
The Foundation awarded six Educational Grants totaling $5,812.49 to support innovative staff projects not funded through the district’s regular budget. Earlier in the 2024-25 school year, the Foundation awarded five mini-grants of up to $1,000 each.
One of this year’s recipients, Jackson Middle School teacher Anthony Manata, received $1,400 for his “Culinary Creators Club,” an after-school extension of the Family and Consumer Science curriculum. “The club would allow up to 25 students to plan, create, and sample a variety of cultural foods,” said Manata. “It offers a creative outlet and a chance to build confidence and new friendships outside the classroom.”
The 2025-26 Educational Grant recipients are:
Full STEAM Ahead
Kristi Isaacson
Ardmore Elementary
Amount: $340
Enhancing Elementary Music Education with MusicplayOnline Subscription
Elementary Music Team (Jake Prosek, Elizabeth Sitrick, Corbyn Holman, Garret Hammond, Rebecca Connelly)
Amount: $1,000
Culinary Creators Club
Anthony Manata
Jackson Middle School
Amount: $1,400
Art Expression
Michelle Rodenbostel, Angelica Gonzalez
North Elementary
Amount: $1,615.06
Cool as a Penguin: Building Skills for Life
Melissa Carpenter, Carly Lee, Vanessa Owens, Andrea Paris
North Elementary
Amount: $1,021.36
Mastering the Box: Fine Motor Toolkits
Rosanne Orsi, Tina Bungert
York Center Elementary
Amount: $436.07
The District 45 Foundation for Excellence in Education raises funds for Educational Grants throughout the year. Donations to the Foundation can be made online or by mail anytime.
