TOLEDO, Ohio – Some local teachers in this region are getting a little extra boost to help with their classroom needs, with Directions Credit Union announcing the 16 winners from the Directions Cares for Classrooms Grant Program Winter 2025.

The Directions Cares for Classrooms grant program provides educators with small grants up to $500 each to be used for a variety of projects and materials, including books, software, calculators, math manipulatives, art supplies, audio-visual equipment, lab materials and more.

The grant program is open to K-12 educators who work for public, private or charter schools in the Directions field of membership, which includes schools in Ashland, Crawford, Fulton, Huron, Knox, Lucas, Ottawa, Richland, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Wood, Monroe (MI), and Lenawee (MI).

Directions Credit Union received 77 applications for Winter 2025. This year’s winners include:

Central Ohio Winners

Jessica Watkins – Lexington Jr. High – Ms. Watkins will use the funds to purchase history items which will allow her 7th grade class to build replicas of the Acropolis, the Roman Colosseum and the Trojan Horse. This will give students a chance for enhancement and engagement of the lesson while developing an understanding Ancient Greeks and Romans and their lasting impact.

Kate Darnell – Madison Middle School – Ms. Darnell plans to use the funds to purchase books for the English-Language Arts class. Students will team up with each person reading the same book and they will either create a podcast or song list relevant to the book.

Mary Ann Zehner – New London Local Schools – The Gifted Intervention Specialist for grades 3-8 will use the grant to purchase benches that can be utilized in shared student spaces. This will enhance the creation of social clubs, positive student interactions and boost student connectivity.

Emily Volz – Discovery School –The grant will cover the bulk of the school’s art room wish list. Many of the items are well loved and get used quickly. The grant will cover the cost of purchasing new supplies.  

Sabrina Weber – Crestview Local Schools – Ms. Weber will use the funds to update and enhance her classroom library by purchasing more than 70 books to encourage students to read for pleasure.

Toledo Winners

Rachel Shell – Crim Elementary School – Ms. Shell will use the funds to purchase adaptive play equipment for an inclusive playground. This will allow students of all abilities to play together.

Luke Reed – Autism Model Community School – The funds will be used to purchase supplies to create homemade decorations in support of the school’s community dance. The students will be able to be involved in ordering, creating and distributing the items to their peers. This years’ theme is “Under the Big Top”

Shannon Schoen – Washington Local Schools – The funds will be used to purchase items to create five room transformations which will include Math and STEM activities for students. The transformations will include Beach Day, Super Bowl Day, Outer Space Day, March Madness Day and Dino Day!

Heidi Meyer – Elmwood High School – Ms. Meyer will use the grant to support student attendance at the Ohio Model United Nations program sponsored by the Ohio Leadership Institute. The student teams each represent a member nation of the UN.

Cheri Copeland-Shull – Springfield Schools –The grant funds will go to the purchase of 10 teepees which students can use when they are having difficulty self-regulating.  In addition, three carts will be purchased that will allow students access to sensory tools that will support their self-regulation.

Michigan Winners

Shellie Metz – Monroe Middle School –The 7th grade science teacher will use the funds to purchase items for hands-on learning resources to help engage students and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts and inspire curiosity.

Dawn Vaughn – Wagar Jr. High – Airport Community Schools – Ms. Vaughn, a 6th grade reading interventionist, will use the funds to purchase prizes and trinkets for her “Reading Bucks Store”. This grant will help restock the store for the rest of the year.

Amy Ryman – Lincoln Elementary – Ms. Ryman plans to use the funds to purchase decodable books. These books will be used during small group instruction, a research-based approach to improving literacy skills.

Bonnie Kaplan – Dundee Middle Schools – Ms. Kaplan will purchase pottery supplies. The school has recently acquired a kiln for the art room. These funds will make it possible for each 5th – 8th grade student to create a finished glazed clay project.

Taran Kennedy – Bedford Jr. High – Ms. Kennedy plans to use the funds to purchase fishing equipment, as the school is establishing a fishing club and creating an outdoor learning environment.

Jeffery Thomas – Whiteford Agricultural Schools – The funds will be used to cover the cost of buses and incidentals for students to attend River Raisin Battlefield in Frenchtown, Monroe MI. This is an interactive trip to a new state park.

“Educators play such a vital role in the lives of their students, and they often spend their own money to purchase supplies, materials, and items to make their classrooms complete or to help students that may need something extra. Directions Cares for Classrooms is a small way we can say thank you to all the wonderful educators making a difference,” said Barry Shaner, Ppresident/CEO at Directions Credit Union.