Latest News

The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation recently awarded more than $14,000 in grants to local teachers through its Excellence in Education Initiative.

The initiative offers grants to teachers who have innovative ideas for classroom projects.

Since the program began, hundreds of programs and activities designed by teachers throughout the Sioux Falls area have received grant funding, enriching educational experiences for students.

2025 Excellence in Education Initiative grant recipients are:

• Megan Bjordal from Cleveland Elementary School in Sioux Falls will receive funds to provide portable Mini Regulation Stations for K–5 students with disabilities to support emotional regulation, focus and classroom engagement. Grant funds will create 20 individualized kits containing sensory tools, visual supports and fidgets, fostering independence, inclusion and improved learning outcomes.
• Regan Olson from Cleveland Elementary School in Sioux Falls will receive funds to provide early language tools and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) resources for students from early childhood through 5th grade. The grant will support play-based materials, communication boards and classroom resources that promote language, confidence and inclusion for about 80 students.
• Laura Lunder from Holy Spirit Elementary in Sioux Falls will receive funds to provide hands-on STEM activities for students ages 3 to 5, fostering curiosity, problem-solving, creativity and collaboration in a small-group learning environment. Grant funds will purchase additional STEM materials for up to 65 students, allowing all preschoolers to explore science, technology, engineering and math in an engaging and inclusive way.
• Rhonda Wilson from John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Sioux Falls will receive funds to provide a multisensory writing and art center for junior kindergarten students, fostering creativity, independence and foundational literacy skills. Grant funds will supply chairs, drying racks, crafting tools and tactile materials to engage 40 students in hands-on, play-based writing experiences that support fine motor development, imagination, and early language growth.
• Jane Fosheim from The Learning Lab in Sioux Falls will receive funds to provide STEAM materials for three preschool classrooms, engaging students ages 3 to 5 in hands-on exploration that builds critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills. Grant funds will supply a variety of interactive tools and activities, supporting approximately 80 students in developing early math, science, engineering, art and social-emotional skills.
• Tanya Brazones from Sioux Falls Christian Schools will receive funds to provide high school students with Turing Tumble sets to explore mechanics, logic and computational thinking through hands-on, collaborative STEM challenges. Grant funds will support 20 Turing Tumble kits, fostering creativity, problem-solving, teamwork and sensory engagement for students.
• Jason Schramm from Sioux Falls Christian Schools will receive funds to connect 11th-grade AP American History and middle school students through shared reading and discussion of illustrated books exploring U.S. history and diverse perspectives. The grant will fund picture books that promote empathy, cultural awareness and collaboration among more than 200 students.
• Sarah Spronk from Sioux Falls Christian Schools will receive funds to provide K–5 students with translator pens, headphones and audio VOX books to support independent access to grade-level curriculum. Grant funds will help 15 students directly, and benefit an additional 36, by fostering reading comprehension, confidence and equitable access to learning across all subjects.
• Erika Tarquino from Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School in Sioux Falls will receive funds to provide students with hands-on Escape Room kits to engage in math problem-solving collaboration and critical thinking across all grade levels. Grant funds will purchase 15 additional reusable kits, benefiting more than 500 students school-wide and allowing multiple grades to participate simultaneously in a fun, interactive learning experience.
• Cami Bacon from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Dell Rapids will receive funds to provide reading pens for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges, promoting independence and confidence as they access grade-level content. Grant funds will purchase a set of pens for shared use across classrooms, supporting third graders during the critical transition from learning to read to reading to learn, while benefiting students school-wide over time.
• Charity Ragland from West Central Middle School in Hartford will receive funds for the Middle School Book Battle, a team-based reading competition for 6th–8th graders that promotes teamwork, comprehension, and a love of reading. The grant will provide new book sets and student prizes, offering more reading choices and engaging about 320 students.

Selected from a pool of strong applicants, the 2025 Excellence in Education grant recipients represent innovation and creativity, said Patrick Gale, vice president for community investment.

"These teachers are so creative in how they engage their students," Gale said. "It's truly inspiring to hear about the work they're doing across so many different areas, and we are proud to support their many projects."