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2025-26 Kahler Innovation Grant Winners

Total Funding Given To Date: $23,670

Number of Students Impacted To Date: 3,575

The Dr. Dan Kahler Innovation Grants Program enhances teaching and learning opportunities across NKC Schools.

Awarded grants demonstrate creative, innovative and effective ways to meet students’ needs, while increasing their motivation to learn and achieve measurable outcomes.

Any NKC Schools staff member can apply for Kahler Innovation Grants.

Grant awards range from $500 to $3,000.

Kahler Innovation Grants are funded by our generous donors. Find out how you be part of supporting these opportunities for NKC Schools students by visiting our support section. 


Rachel Peters, Antioch Middle School

Chess at Antioch

Knights, rooks, and queens are ready for play! A fresh collection of chess pieces and boards is turning 7th and 8th graders into strategic masterminds, one epic checkmate at a time.

Miranda Martino, Meadowbrook Elementary

Girls on the Run Team Scholarship & Gear

Kahler Grant supports scholarships for fourth and fifth-grade girls to train and compete in a seasonal 5k. These young athletes are building confidence, teamwork, and healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
Miranda Kurbin, New Mark Middle

LEGO Science Education

Science lessons click for 7th and 8th graders with hands-on LEGO Science Education, allowing them to build, collaborate, and bring complex concepts to life, brick by brick.
Matt Barrows, Rising Hill

See Through My Eyes, and Move With My Wheels

Through engaging, hands-on activities, elementary students experience what it's like to navigate the world as someone who uses a wheelchair or has a visual impairment, building deep empathy and understanding now and for a lifetime.
Debi Kennedy, Staley High

Let's 'ROCK' Our Way

An adaptive chair provides more than just a seat—it gives a student the power to focus, communicate, and fully engage with their classmates and teachers. With this new support, Staley students can comfortably participate in learning and unlock their full potential.
Chelsey Kusek, Bell Prairie Elementary

Curiosity Spins, Creativity Begins!

A manual banding wheels brings a new dimension to this elementary art room, where students can now combine artistic expression with scientific principles. Students explore the fascinating intersection of art and science in a hands-on and meaningful way.
Marion Roath, Jacobs Center

Sensory Lab

A calming space provides a quiet and safe haven where students can de-escalate their emotions, learn to self-regulate, and successfully re-engage with their learning. This special addition gives students the tools they need to navigate challenges and make their way back to a productive and positive classroom experience. Inspired by the 2024-25 grant to Golden Oaks.
Kirby Marsh, Meadowbrook Elementary

Equity in Motion

Adaptive PE equipment means every student gets a chance to shine! This incredible gear makes it possible for everyone to join in the fun, feel like a part of the team, and experience the joy of playing the game together.
Morgan Gleason, Early Education Center

Picture the Possibilities

Little learners are building more than just a routine—they're building independence. Learning boards give them a powerful tool to communicate their needs and understand their day, empowering them to take charge of their own lives, one step at a time.
Renae Harman & Sara Weikel, SAGE - Northland Innovation Center

Hands-on Innovation with Cardboard Tools

A staple supply for SAGE students, cardboard is lightweight, versatile and widely available. But it is not easy to cut. Until Kahler Grant purchased ChompSaws, a safe, kid-friendly tool that allows students the ability to make precision cuts for their most innovative designs. School nurse approved!
Katherine Poole, SAGE - Northland Innovation Center

3D Printing Brings Ideas to Life

A Kahler Grant for a new 3D printer allows SAGE students’ creativity to come to life in all dimensions!
Kendall Benner, Staley High School

History Comes Alive

Funding for powdered wigs and rotary phones allows Staley High School students to become pivotal figures in American history. By transforming research into live interpretation, students deepen their own historical thinking skills while engaging their classmates in a living history experience.