MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)— Before students fill classrooms this fall, teachers across Marion and Morrow counties have been busy imagining new ways to inspire them. Thanks to Marion Community Foundation’s 2026 TEACH Grants, many of those ideas are about to become reality.

The Foundation recently awarded $38,000 through its TEACH — Teaching, Educating And Classroom Help – Grants Program to 21 teachers representing nearly every school district in Marion and Morrow counties. As the 2026-27 academic year is about to start, the recipient teachers are prepared to launch their programs. The annual TEACH Grants program has provided educators with funding for creative classroom projects that go beyond what traditional school budgets can support.

From literacy initiatives and music to engineering, fine arts, life skills programs, and innovative technology, this year’s grants reflect the creativity and dedication of local educators—and the generosity of community donors.

“TEACH grants are a way Marion Community Foundation and its donors are investing directly in local students,” said Kate McCleese, program manager at Marion Community Foundation. “Teachers know what inspires their students and what opportunities would make the biggest difference. This program gives classroom teachers the resources to bring those ideas to life.”

The grants will fund a variety of experiences. Projects include expanded engineering opportunities, 3D digital sculpting, outdoor learning spaces, performing arts programs, school library expansion, support for special education classrooms, and hands-on learning experiences in entrepreneurship, agriculture, photography, and financial literacy.

The TEACH Grants Program is made possible through support from the Dennis & Sara Trachsel Foundation and several charitable funds held at Marion Community Foundation, including the Pillar Credit Union Teachers’ Fund, Pillar Credit Union Morrow County Teachers’ Fund, and Ray & Charlotte Baldauf Fund. School-specific support also comes from the Allen ‘Bus’ Augenstein Teachers Fund, Brown Family Teachers Fund, Marion Education Foundation Fund, and River Valley Teachers Fund.

“Many people think of scholarships when they think about supporting education,” said Julie Prettyman, Foundation President & CEO. “TEACH grants are another meaningful way donors can make a difference. They empower teachers to create memorable learning experiences that can spark curiosity, build confidence, and impact students for years to come.”

The 2026 TEACH Grants support projects at Elgin, Marion City, Pleasant, River Valley, St. Mary, Highland, and Mt. Gilead schools, benefiting students from kindergarten through high school across a wide range of academic subjects and enrichment opportunities.

A complete list of 2026 TEACH Grant recipients and funded projects follows:

Elgin Local Schools

Elgin Middle School | Andrea Coykendall | Life Skills Classroom
This grant will support life skills instruction for students in a new cross-categorical special education classroom by providing materials for cooking, cleaning, budgeting and other hands-on activities.

Marion City Schools

Harding High School | Adam Hanke | Elevating Our Art
This grant will enhance drawing and painting instruction by using professional-quality art supplies, presentation materials for student artwork and opportunities for extracurricular art experiences.

Harding High School | Jacob Hartman | Multi-Ensemble Digital Piano Upgrade for Marion City Schools Band Programs
This grant will replace a failing digital piano system used by marching band, jazz ensembles, indoor percussion, solo performances and other music programs, ensuring students have quality equipment for instruction and performance.

Harding High School | Jami Rawlins | Harding Singers Lighting and Performance Project
This grant will purchase wireless, computer-programmed lighting and other performance equipment to enhance productions by the Harding Singers, a competitive show choir that performs throughout the region and hosts an annual competition.

Grant Middle School | Aaron Edwards | Engineering
This grant will expand engineering projects by providing materials for soldering electrical components, woodworking and other hands-on learning experiences.

Grant Middle School | Jessica Clarke | VOX Books
This grant will purchase VOX Books, which feature built-in audio narration in multiple languages and reading levels, helping engage young readers while supporting struggling readers and English language learners.

Garfield Elementary School | Lily Janson | Specialized Learning Center
This grant will purchase sensory equipment for a specialized learning center classroom, helping students with disabilities develop sensory, social and emotional regulation skills while increasing independence and readiness to learn.

Pleasant Local Schools

Pleasant High School | Kirsten Jordan | CCP Photography Course
This grant will support a College Credit Plus photography course in coordination with Columbus State, providing students with instruction in studio and digital photography, portfolio development and career exploration.

Pleasant High School | Paula Ritter | It’s a Zoo Here! — Enriching a Zoology Course
This grant will purchase zoological specimens, microscope slides, display charts and tissue samples to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities in zoology.

River Valley Local Schools

River Valley Middle School | Laura Carey | Pixels to Polymers
This grant will expand the school’s digital art program by introducing 3D digital sculpting and additive manufacturing, allowing students to transform digital designs into physical creations.

Liberty Elementary | Samantha Coyan | Audio Adventures
This grant will purchase VOX Books for kindergarten students, combining print books with built-in audio narration to strengthen early literacy skills, build confidence and encourage independent reading.

Heritage Elementary | Laura Rengert | The Book Drop
This grant will create a pseudo book vending machine that rewards students with age-appropriate books, encouraging literacy and helping build home libraries.

St. Mary School

St. Mary School | Library Enrichment
This grant will purchase a library management system and support subscriptions to digital resources, improving access to library materials for students.

Highland Local Schools

Highland Elementary | Dirk Detillion | Greenhouse
This student-led project will provide hands-on learning in agriculture, entrepreneurship and sustainability as students grow, care for and sell plants while developing teamwork, responsibility and business skills.

Highland Elementary | Samantha Johnson | Cultivating Curiosity Outside the Classroom
This grant will create an outdoor learning space where students explore science, teamwork and responsibility through gardening and hands-on learning experiences.

Highland Elementary | Madison Craigo | Kindness Club
This student-led club will encourage fifth-grade students to plan and lead projects that promote kindness, school beautification, service and encouragement throughout the school.

Highland High School | Craig Smith | Sustaining Personalized Strength & Conditioning Through Performance Tracking Technology
This grant will support strength and conditioning software that provides individualized workouts and performance tracking while helping students develop goal-setting, data analysis and lifelong fitness habits.

Highland Elementary | Kayla Arthurs | Instruments for the Elementary Music Classroom
This grant will purchase additional musical instruments, including African gourds, maracas, hand drums and rhythm sticks, allowing more K-5 students to participate in hands-on music instruction.

Mt. Gilead Local Schools

Park Avenue Elementary | Mackenzie Hoffman | The Park Avenue Student Market
This grant will support a student-run marketplace where students apply math concepts such as budgeting, fractions, decimals, measurement and data analysis while building financial literacy, collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Mt. Gilead High School | Hanna Vanderkooi | Rise and Shine Cafe
This grant will support a student-run coffee shop where entrepreneurship students gain hands-on experience in business operations, marketing, finance, technology and customer service.

Mt. Gilead High School | Tom Lewis | T-shirt Press Room Storage & Rack System
This grant will purchase modular storage and organization systems for the school’s student-run direct-to-film printing operation, improving workflow and creating a more professional production environment.

Marion Community Foundation has been a growing source of community funding for area nonprofits and students since 1998. Its offices are located at 504 S. State St. in Marion and staff may be reached by calling 740-387-9704 or visiting marioncommunityfoundation.org online.