"The Community Activity Club at Westerville North High School, founded by English Learner teacher Amal Doom, helps about 30 EL students connect with their peers and experience American culture through monthly community activities like bowling, movies, and the zoo. This initiative aims to foster a sense of belonging, which enhances mental health and academic success for students from diverse backgrounds, including those fleeing war and instability."

Jacquie Patterson, Hawthorne and Annehurst "A light table combined with manipulatives offers an engaging, hands-on way for children to develop fine motor skills. This multi-sensory approach makes skill-building both fun and effective."

Katie Smith, Westerville South "This project will support students from Westerville South Theater Troupe 513 interested in clothing construction, costume design, and textile arts by upgrading equipment and providing resources for costume construction and education. "

Jeff Owdom, Westerville South "This project will help Engineering students show off their work in CAD (Computer Aided Design) by buying 3D printers to assist them making products and items to help assist teachers make their lessons and classrooms more interesting and current."

Serena Casale, Mark Twain Funded through the Tombaugh Fund. "Inclusive playground equipment ensures that all children, regardless of ability, can play together, fostering a sense of community and belonging. By adding features like wheelchair-accessible swings, sensory-friendly panels, and adaptive structures, we create an environment where every child can explore, learn, and have fun, promoting inclusivity and physical, emotional, and social development for all."

Wilder Elementary, "The Wilder STEM Makerspace will empower students to explore, create, and innovate through hands-on projects in robotics, coding, engineering, and design. By providing equitable access to cutting-edge technology, this makerspace will inspire future engineers, inventors, and problem-solvers, preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving world."

Susan Kaul, Mark Twain Through WEF grant funds, Mark Twain Elementary continues its support of student diversity through literacy. Mark Twain runs a reading program in which EVERY student has EQUAL access to current books to take with them to build their personal home libraries.

Meegan Moore and Juls Rathje, Genoa Middle School "Students in grades seven and eight will explore the art of stained glass while integrating math and science concepts into the creative process. This hands-on project will engage multiple staff members and enrich students’ educational experiences by connecting the arts with STEM disciplines."

Amy Tankovich, Westerville Central Funded by the Tombaugh Fund "Scrapbooking Your Story is a project for English Language Learners to celebrate and share their story and culture with the rest of WCHS while developing their command of the English language. Every story is different and a new beginning for a student."

Teresa Ballou, Mia Grube, Ashley Evans, Kenton Scharff; Westerville North "We are going to take our students on a tour through the genetic history and potential future of our favorite fowl. This STEM-based poultry curriculum uses immersive learning experiences and real genetic samples for your students to dive deep in the future evolution of our food. See how environment influences heredity, and explore the evidence that suggests T. rex as our modern chicken’s and turkey’s ancestor."

Jennifer Hall, Robert Frost "In the fall of 2024, Robert Frost welcomed its first Life Skills unit, a small learning community (SLC) for students with multiple handicaps and intellectual disabilities. This SLC joins two existing units for students with intellectual disabilities, as well as two units for students with mild learning disabilities or behavioral delays. The goal of this project is to bring adaptive technology into music class for these SLC units to provide opportunities for all students to have a meaningful music education experience, regardless of skill or ability."

Mike Henderson, All Westerville Elementary Schools "Elementary schools across the district are paving the way toward increased physical activity through roller skating! PE teachers across the district are rolling out a skating unit, teaching students the joys of roller skating in effort to improve coordination, balance, and leg strength! The teachers are leading a 2-3 week skating program before the skates travel to the next elementary school for their turn to rock and roll!"