Knowledge Open 2026
Thank you to the more than 200 golfers who joined us for the 28th annual Knowledge Open on Friday, July 17. We are grateful to all of our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers who made 2026 another memorable year! In the … Read More
Stories of Grants & Giving
Grants Awarded: June 2026
This week, the Appleton Education Foundation board of directors approved 8 grants totaling more than $12,000 to strengthen and enhance education for students in the Appleton Area School District. All funding is from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund, unless otherwise … Read More
Celebrating National Poetry Month: The Power of the Pen at Appleton West
This National Poetry Month, the Appleton Education Foundation (AEF) is excited to share how local students find their voices through the written word. We are proud to highlight “Wisconsin Birds in Poetry,” a grant project that enhances our community through … Read More
Small Steps, Big Impact
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
Play with a Purpose
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
The Science of Singing Bowls
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
Seeds of Knowledge
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
Equipping Educators for Chapter One
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
Rhythm in motion
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
Grants Awarded: March 2026
This week, the Appleton Education Foundation board of directors approved 7 grants totaling nearly $12,000 to strengthen and enhance education for students in the Appleton Area School District. All funding is from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund, unless otherwise noted. … Read More
Grants Awarded: December 2025
This week, the Appleton Education Foundation board of directors approved 21 grants totaling nearly $33,000 to strengthen and enhance education for students in the Appleton Area School District. All funding is from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund, unless otherwise noted. … Read More
Grants Awarded: October 2025
This week, the Appleton Education Foundation board of directors approved 13 grants totaling more than $14,000 to strengthen and enhance education for students in the Appleton Area School District. All funding is from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund, unless otherwise … Read More
Celebrating Financial Planning Month
By Allison Moeschberger, Certified Financial Planner| Appleton East alumna, AEF Board of Director October is Financial Planning Month! This is a great reminder to review your existing financial plan or start working on putting a financial plan together if you … Read More
$95,000 Grant to Support Appleton Elementary Students
Appleton Education Foundation (AEF) awarded a $95,000 grant to provide sensory regulation toolkits for Appleton Area School District (AASD) students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This is AEF’s largest project grant to date. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, all … Read More
Knowledge Open 2025
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
Grants Awarded: June 2025
This week, the Appleton Education Foundation board of directors approved 18 grants totaling more than $20,500 to strengthen and enhance education for students in the Appleton Area School District. All funding is from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund, unless otherwise … Read More
Educators Collaborate to Boost Student Motivation
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
Bringing History to Life
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
Let the Sunshine In
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
Birdhouse Bonanza
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
