Grafton Education Foundation
Grants In Action
2026 GEF Grant Award Winners
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Since 2011, GEF has awarded a total of 145 grants for a grand total of $724,488. Their stories inspire us to continue funding projects that will have a lasting impact on large numbers of students throughout our district.
​We are thrilled to announce the winners of our 2026 GEF grant cycle, awarding nearly $55,000 in funding across our public Grafton school district. This year, 10 transformative grants were distributed to fuel innovation and directly elevate the student experience in our classrooms. These grants will allow our educators to implement hands-on programs, upgrade vital technology, and create dynamic learning environments where students can thrive.
During the last day few days of the academic year, the following teachers were awarded 2026 GEF grants from the GEF prize patrol:​​
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Brett Dimmer
John Long Middle School
"Acoustic Piano"
$7,553.00
The current JLMS Band Room piano is nearly 40 years old and is in need of replacement. This piano will serve the needs of the jazz band, musical, variety show, general music classes, solo & ensemble festivals and other events for many years to come.
Wendy Wagern-Fooreider
Grafton High School
"Commercial Refrigeration + Freezer Storage for Culinary Curriculum"
$7,362.00
This project empowers high school culinary students to develop and produce a line of frozen ready-
to-eat meals tailored for the school community, providing students and staff with nutritious,
convenient options while reducing food waste.
Joseph Bertsch
Woodview Elementary School
"Art Display Boards"
$2,322.22
Through this grant, Woodview will install a permanent display board in the school library, transforming a blank wall into a rotating gallery space that showcases student artwork throughout the year. This project will provide every student with the opportunity to have their creativity celebrated in a central, highly visible space, fostering confidence, pride, and a strong sense of belonging.
Elizabeth Bobinski/Olivia Donica/Elisabeth Bergmann
Woodview Elementary School
"Kindergarten Rekewrek Math Racks"
$721.15
The grant presents the kindergarten students at Woodview Elementary School rekenrek manipulatives that will strengthen the students' number sense. This tool helps students subitize, which is the ability to recognize a group of five beads instantly without counting them 1-2-3-4-5. This is a critical milestone for mental math in the kindergarten classroom.
Melissa Schmidt
Woodview Elementary School
"Gumbelievable Reading the Sweetening the Path Proficiency"
$497.06
The "Gumbelievable" Reading initiative motivates students to outperform their own weekly reading baselines, transforming incremental progress into a rewarding, self-paced challenge. By "stretching" their previous personal bests to earn a turn at the bubble gum machine, students reinforce the habit of consistent effort and celebrate the "pop" of tangible academic improvement.
Kevin Gain
Grafton High School
"Universal Laser Systems VL 54.75 Engraver"
$17,048.80
The GHS Fab Lab is looking to replace the M-300 laser engraver from 1999 with a new laser system to satisfy PLTW Engineering curriculum and its growing course numbers as well as creating opportunities for business classes to run a successful student store. Our growing art department will also engage in advanced digital output techniques to help our students become more versatile in the technical features of the art world.
Julie Tanner
Grafton High School
"Grafting Calculators"
$4,422.22
Being able to successfully navigate their graphing calculators can help students with course content. While many of our students have the necessary calculator, every year there are students that do not. The grant funds sets of TI-84 graphing calculators will help to address gaps in learning and create equity in the classroom.
Micki Schreiner/ Beth Anzia
Grafton HIgh School
"Bridging the Gap from Cellular Systems to Human Physiology"
$2,766.23
This project provides essential equipment to enhance the laboratory experience in Biology and PLTW classes. It includes an Edvocycler PCR machine for DNA amplification, chicken egg incubators for embryology studies, and heart and lung function models and sphygmomanometers for studying human anatomy and physiology.
Erin Sumner / Jakob Nestler
Grafton High School
"FTC Robotics Room Infrastructure Update"
$5,000
The grant improves the infrastructure and facilities of our current robotics room, so it may support more teams and members, ultimately benefiting Grafton STEM outreach for the foreseeable future. Investing in our program allows us to expand to more members and teams, which will let us spread STEM and FIRST throughout countless outreach programs, exposing kids to many different fields and important soft skills such as teamwork, time management, and professionalism
Mikayla Wankowski / Meagan Zewicki
Kennedy Elementary School
"Multimedia Enhancement Project"
$6,666.66
The Kennedy Elementary Multimedia Project will transform the cafeteria into a state-of-the-art venue for learning and community connection. By installing a high-definition NewLine display and a professional audio and microphone system, we are creating a versatile hub that brings the Amplify-CKLA curriculum to life and provides a modern venue for school-wide events and community partners. This vital investment ensures KES remains an effective and modern center for learning and collaboration, positively impacting every student, staff member, and local organization for years to come.
A huge congratulations to our 2026 teacher grant winners! We look forward to seeing your grants come to life in the upcoming academic year. Thank you for your commitment to enriching the learning experience for students in our district.
Watch the live reactions from some of the educators!
