A quick hop. A careful balance. A deep breath. In the hallways of Foster Elementary Charter School, learning doesn’t pause when students leave the classroom. It continues along the Ninja Sensory Paths. Kindergarten teacher Ashley Janssen used a grant from … Read More

In Appleton Community 4K classrooms, learning looks like a bakery bustling with young chefs, a campsite glowing with a carefully built campfire, and a doctor’s office filled with compassionate caregivers. While the students are busy playing, their teachers are observing, … Read More

In physical science classes at Appleton West High School, students aren’t just learning about sound waves—they’re creating them. Science teacher Julie Branner used a grant from the Appleton Education Foundation’s Alan and Vira Stoner Education Fund to purchase sets of … Read More

With support from an Appleton Education Foundation grant, Foster Elementary Charter School can more fully utilize its hydroponic growing system, giving more than 200 students hands-on access to STEM learning while producing fresh, nutritious food for the school community. From … Read More

More than 130 new educators walked into the Appleton Area School District at the start of the 2025–2026 school year, including 62 stepping into their very first classroom. Many carried the same quiet question: Am I ready? Thanks to a … Read More

The beat of samba drums, the thunder of stomping gumboots, the crack of Māori sticks, and the lively snap of tinikling poles—students at Badger Elementary travel the world without ever leaving school. Students of all ages explore global music traditions … Read More

Thank you to the more than 200 golfers who joined us for the 27th annual Knowledge Open on Friday, July 18. We are grateful to all of our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers who made 2025 the best yet! In the … Read More

At Appleton East High School, this book club is for the staff. More than 20 educators are learning from one another as they read and discuss The Will to Learn by Dave Stuart Jr., a book about boosting student motivation. … Read More

Teacher Chloe Reierson believes history can feel boring to students because of how it’s taught. She’s determined to change that. At Wilson Middle School, she brings the past to life with historically accurate clothing and artifacts. “When my students can … Read More

What if you could capture the sun’s journey across the sky with a simple camera? AASD technology coach Brian Bartel is teaching fifth graders how to do just that with a grant from the Appleton Education Foundation. Bartel introduced students … Read More

Ferber Elementary School second graders applied their knowledge of birds to bring learning to life by building and decorating birdhouses. They chose from nine birdhouse styles as they considered the size of the house and the opening for their feathered … Read More

The best educators are always on the lookout for effective ways to challenge their students to develop new skills. Physical Education teacher Bryce Verheyen had this in mind when he introduced the game of Tchoukball to his students at Highlands … Read More

A reenergized Appleton Area School District mentoring program has fifth-graders hanging with high school students as if they were celebrities. Many quickly join in a game of touch football, a simple walk around the playground or excited conversation over lunch. … Read More

Anthony Palma’s classroom regularly is abuzz with students working to solve complex geometric puzzles. Palma can be observed crisscrossing the room with a smile as he stops to offer encouragement and advice, clearly enjoying students’ excitement and engagement. A spacial … Read More

The Appleton Education Foundation board of directors recently approved 21 grants totaling more than $23,000 to creatively enhance education for students in the Appleton Area School District.   All funding is from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund, unless otherwise noted. Appleton … Read More