Goddard Education Foundation -

Dear Goddard Public Schools Staff and Families,

Neighbors United Goddard is happening tomorrow, Saturday, April 25, 2026, and we would love for you to be part of this incredible day of service and community connection.

We are still looking for volunteers to join us. Registration will take place at the Goddard District Stadium from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m., and there are still plenty of project sites available for individuals and families to serve together. Click below for more details:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1499152881939945

Volunteers can expect a meaningful and fun experience, along with a free event t-shirt, breakfast, and lunch. Whether you come on your own or bring the whole family, this is a great opportunity to give back while spending time together in service to our community.

In addition to volunteer projects, there are two special opportunities taking place at the Goddard Linear Park Pavilion, 108 N. Main Street:

Plant and Seed Swap Event, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Bring a piece of your garden to share, such as plant cuttings, divided perennials, seeds, or small garden items. Participants can drop off items as early as 8:00 a.m. and then “shop” beginning at 10:00 a.m. It is a fun and simple way to trade plants and grow something new while connecting with others in the community. In addition, students from the Goddard High School Ecology and Biology programs, under the leadership of teacher Darcie Lowry, have cultivated 100 indoor houseplant starter kits that will be given away to community members who stop by. This work is an extension of a Goddard Education Foundation Innovative Teacher Grant, bringing classroom learning to life while giving back to the community in a meaningful way. CLICK HERE for more details:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1784640216043365

Sports Equipment Donation and Pickup
Drop off gently used sports equipment between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Families in need are invited to pick up equipment from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All remaining donated items will go back into our community through local junior league programs, helping ensure every child has access to the equipment they need to participate. A special thank you to the Summer Ball Showdown for coordinating this opportunity. Click below for more details:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2189421978525736

We encourage everyone to follow the Neighbors United Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NeighborsUnitedGoddard for updates. In the event of severe or dangerous weather, any cancellation will be announced by 7:00 a.m. If the event has already begun and conditions change, volunteers will be safely dismissed and further communication will be provided.

Thank you for continuing to make Goddard Public Schools such a strong and caring community.

Oak Street Care Closet: Removing Barriers to Learning

It’s hard to focus on a math problem when you’re worried about a hole in your clothing, a forgotten snack, or a missing essential. At Oak Street Elementary, teachers realized that for many students, the biggest barriers to learning weren’t academic, they were personal.

Thanks to an Innovative Teacher Grant from the Goddard Education Foundation and two teachers, Andrea Douglass and Hallie Rausch, who have a heart for meeting student needs beyond the classroom, Oak Street Elementary launched the “Care Closet”. It’s a simple concept with a profound impact. The closet is stocked with essentials such as socks, shoes, hair ties, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and snacks to name a few.

Before this grant, a student might have to call home or even leave school for the day due to a clothing mishap. Now, a quick, private visit to the Care Closet gets them back to their desk ready to continue learning in minutes.

“A child who feels secure and comfortable is a child who is ready to learn,” the teachers shared. “This is just the beginning!” By meeting these basic needs with dignity and compassion, Oak Street isn’t just giving out supplies, they are gifting students the confidence to enter the classroom ready to succeed.

Oak Street Elementary and the GEF are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the community and benefactors who recognize that sometimes, the best way to support a student's mind is to first care for their basic well-being.

Beyond the Numbers: How Kindergarten Explorers are Building Math Success

At Explorer Elementary, Taylor Graber’s kindergarten classroom is buzzing with a new kind of energy. Through her Innovative Teacher Grant, funded by the Goddard Education Foundation, Mrs. Graber is redefining math time. By replacing traditional drills with structured, tactile play, she is ensuring her students develop a deeper, more intuitive understanding of mathematical concepts.

“In kindergarten, most of my students are kinesthetic learners. Having hands-on activities allows students to get up, move, and learn through direct experiences,” Mrs. Graber explains. “With these new resources, students will practice counting, recognizing numbers, identifying shapes, and understanding basic addition and subtraction problems.”

The impact, however, stretches far beyond math stations. As students manipulate small objects like nuts, bolts, and locks, they are refining their fine motor skills and navigating social-emotional opportunities like teamwork, sharing, and collective problem-solving.

By investing in these resources, the Goddard Education Foundation is helping Mrs. Graber build a rock-solid foundation that these students will carry with them as they promote to higher grades. This project ensures that for these young Explorer students, math isn’t just a subject they study, it’s a world they can touch, build, and successfully navigate.

Thank you Goddard Education Foundation for helping ensure our youngest learners aren’t just learning numbers; they are learning how to be confident learners for life.

Stitching Together Compassion at EHS

Students in the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) classroom at Eisenhower High School recently discovered that their sewing skills can provide much more than just a grade, they can provide a lifeline of comfort for another generation.

Through the project, “Stitching Together Compassion,” led by FACS teacher Meredith Beavers, students transformed their technical skill production into a powerful lesson on empathy and community service. By constructing specialized “fidget quilts” for dementia residents at local Memory Care facilities, students were able to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and the tangible needs of their community.

“As a FACS educator, I strive to find new ways for my students to engage with and give back to their community,” shares Mrs. Beavers. “This project is uniquely poised to help students see what they create in the classroom can offer a sense of comfort and dignity for someone living with the daily challenges of dementia.”

The impact became real when students hand-delivered their creations to Oxford Grand Memory Care. The “fruits of their labor” were met with contagious smiles from the residents. Students distributed their unique art to residents and showed them the different tactile elements each quilt offers, giving residents plenty of options to meet their needs. Staff at Oxford Grand were equally thrilled, noting that while these fidget quilts are highly popular and effective for residents, the facility previously only had a few to share.

This experience is a testament of service within the Goddard and surrounding community, a lesson these students will carry throughout their journey in USD 265. Through this Innovative Teacher Grant, the FACS department is proving that a sewing machine isn’t just a tool for a hobby; it’s a tool for the heart.

A huge thank you to the Goddard Education Foundation for helping us stitch together compassion at EHS!

Bringing ‘Dewey’ to Life in the GMS Library!

The Goddard Middle School library is transforming into a living laboratory where books are no longer just static objects on a shelf. In this space, knowledge is something students touch, observe, create, and even wear. This innovative project, “Bringing Dewey to Life,” led by GMS Librarian April Karber, reimagines the traditional Dewey Decimal System, moving it from a quiet organization method into a vibrant, sensory-driven experience.

Middle School is a pivotal crossroads where voluntary reading typically declines. “Bringing Dewey to Life” meets students where they are, reversing this trend by bridging the gap between “real-world” experiences and non-fiction subjects, such as science, the arts, and history. By integrating hands-on artifacts and interactive stations directly into the shelving sections, Mrs. Karber is sparking the type of curiosity that transforms a casual reader into a lifelong hobbyist or a future professional.

“Reading is a fundamental skill used in all content areas and so many professions post-high school; therefore, it is easy to see how libraries and reading play an important role in the school community. The library and the “Bringing Dewey to Life” initiative is uniquely poised to impact this important skill and contribute to students becoming lifelong learners,” shared Karber.

With the support of this innovative teacher grant, the GMS Library now offers tactile exploration in three key areas:

500s Section (Sciences): Students become botanists and ecologists through Hydroponic Gardens and a “Bookworm” farm, allowing them to monitor and cultivate plant growth and study the “sound of soil” sciences in real-time.
700s Section (Arts): Creativity takes center stage with Watercolor Stations.
900s Section (History): History moves off the page with immersive History Kits. These kits, filled with realistic props, and period-accurate costume pieces, allow teachers to check out kits to enhance their lessons.

When a student picks up a costume piece or harvests a flower, they aren’t just visiting a library, they are participating in their own education. Through this Innovative Teacher Grant, the GMS Library is ensuring that the “Dewey” system isn’t just a way to find a book; it’s a way to find a passion.

A huge thank you to April Karber and the Goddard Education Foundation for helping us bring Dewey to life at GMS.

Small Hands, Big Ideas: Exploratory STEM Bins at Earhart

In early childhood education, one of the most powerful tools for learning isn’t a textbook, it’s play. With the help of an Innovative Teacher Grant, Mrs. Hummer’s preschool class at Amelia Earhart Elementary now has Exploratory STEM Bins to inspire learning in a fun, inclusive way. Whether a child is an English Language Learner, has physical limitations, or is navigating a cognitive delay, the STEM bins offer a universal language of exploration. In this setting, every child, regardless of ability, can collaborate, create, and solve problems side-by-side.

“Exploratory play in Pre-K meets children’s need for hands-on learning allowing them to investigate, and experiment. It’s a free way for children to practice essential skills and social interaction,” shares Mrs. Hummer. These bins address the urgent need for hands-on, self-directed discovery and build a vital foundation of collaborative learning. By prioritizing the experience of discovery over simple content, we are empowering our youngest learners to develop the critical thinking and fine motor persistence they will need for a lifetime of academic success.

We are deeply grateful to the Goddard Education Foundation for providing these vital building blocks; your investment ensures that every child, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to investigate, experiment, and thrive. Thank you for helping us turn our classroom into a place where the next generation of engineers and innovators can begin their journey with confidence.

It takes a village... and our village is the best.

Behind every great student is a dedicated team of teachers, drivers, custodians, and support staff. They are more than just employees; they are the heart of the #265Family.

Is there someone who has made a difference in your life or your child’s life this year? Whether they provide a safe ride to school or a word of encouragement in the hallway, we want to hear about it!

Nominate them for the #265Family Award today. A few minutes of your time could lead to a $100 surprise for a well-deserving staff member!

Let’s celebrate them! Nominate your hero for the #265Family Award. It’s a quick way to say "thank you" and gives them a chance to win a $100 cash prize!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsMNl3z277aZNiN859FaFgJAPZq79zwU47Oi1uH8pqqESvPg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112499309207359684117

Who is your #265Family Hero?

Our staff members are the heartbeat of our district. From the classroom to the cafeteria, and from the bus loop to the front office, they make the magic happen every single day!

Do you know a staff member who:

• ✨ Sparks a passion for learning?

• 🤝 Offers a helping hand when it's needed most?

• 💛 Makes every student feel seen and valued?

• 🚀 Goes the extra mile (and then some)?
  
  Don’t wait—nominations close April 3rd! Click below to nominate a #265Family hero!
  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsMNl3z277aZNiN859FaFgJAPZq79zwU47Oi1uH8pqqESvPg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112499309207359684117
  

With six years of specialized experience and the unique perspective of a parent navigating the world of disabilities, Shanda Miller, an Oak Street Elementary Special Education Teacher, brings a rare blend of professional expertise and personal heart to Goddard Public Schools. Through an Innovative Teacher Grant, the Goddard Education Foundation is partnering with Ms. Miller to transform the school’s approach to inclusion.

This grant not only provides new and improved sensory tools for Oak Street's Sensory Room but a sensory support system that includes sensory pouches that every teacher can access right in their classrooms. “This approach enhances inclusivity by making sensory regulation tools accessible in both dedicated spaces and everyday classrooms,” Ms. Miller explains.

By empowering teachers with immediate-response tools, Ms. Miller’s mission to help support all students’ sensory needs is just the beginning. She hopes this project helps improve students’ self-regulation, attention, and engagement and will in turn reduce behavioral disruptions while increasing on-task learning. “Empowering teachers with portable tools fosters timely intervention, leading to a more inclusive learning environment that benefits academic performance and social-emotional growth for all students,” shares Ms. Miller.

Through this grant, Ms. Miller is ensuring that at Oak Street, inclusion isn’t just a word; it’s a tangible portable reality for every learner. “This is just the beginning,” Ms. Miller promises.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the GEF for their generous funding and to Ms. Miller for her dedication to creating a truly inclusive environment. This grant is a game-changer for our students, and we can’t wait to see the success it brings to every classroom.

The Final Click: Bridging the Gap from Classroom to Career

At Eisenhower High School, the Graphic Design lab is more than just a classroom, it’s a professional production shop. Led by Kristin Salazar, a 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year Finalist and dedicated Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher, the CTE Program thrives on providing real-world application. Mrs. Salazar received a Goddard Education Foundation Innovative Teacher Grant, providing her students another “tool” in their portfolios. Students are now able to see their vinyl projects, including banners, posters, signs, and door clings, through to the very end. With the addition of a grommet machine and finishing supplies, students are gaining the rare experience of professionally mounting, securing, and displaying their own works of art.

The impact of this grant is best seen through the work of senior Abi Carman. Tasked with creating a perforated door graphic for the USD 265 Tech Department, Abi didn’t just create the design; she stepped into the role of professional consultant to oversee the installation. From researching “tech” themes to navigating the back-and-forth communication with the USD 265 Tech department, Abi oversaw the project from the sketch board to final installation.

“This project helped me gain communication skills and taught me how to work with professionals to reach a final product,” Abi shares.

By bringing the finishing process in-house, students like Abi now experience the full lifecycle of their work, seeing their designs live permanently on USD 265 grounds rather than just on a computer screen.

The project also unlocked a unique mentorship opportunity with Officer Pulver, a USD 265 district police officer who brought his “pre-police” expertise from years of working in a professional sign shop into the classroom. Pulver has been a welcome mentor in Mrs. Salazar’s classroom, helping bridge the gap between classroom design and industry operations.

“Working with Mrs. Salazar's class has been incredible! Being a school resource officer is all about connections and problem solving, “says Officer Pulver. “Not only am I making connections and building rapport, I'm also able to train the students with transferable job skills.”

The results of this Innovative Grant are already empowering USD 265 students. By eliminating the need to outsource finishing work, students are able to practice a level of professionalism as they produce industry standard products for EHS sports, events, and USD 265 grounds. Ultimately, this grant ensures that as Mrs. Salazar’s program grows, every student walks away with the confidence that their work isn’t just to complete a school grade, it is providing a real-life industry experience.

“There’s nothing like seeing a student start a job timidly and finish brimming with well-earned confidence,” says Officer Pulver. “I particularly enjoy when students step back and have their ‘I made that’ moment.”

Thank you to the generous benefactors who GIVE to the GEF and help provide opportunities for students just like those in Mrs. Salazar’s class. Your support and belief in the power of hands-on innovation empowers students to dream big creatively and graduate with real-world skills. Thank you for helping us turn “classroom projects” into professional achievements.

Finding Their Calm, Roaring with Confidence
The Lion’s Toolbox at Clark Davidson Elementary

At Clark Davidson Elementary, students are learning that big feelings are not something to fear, they are something to understand.

Thanks to a Goddard Education Foundation Teacher Grant, school social worker Corrina Crabb has transformed a simple idea into a powerful resource for students. What began as an idea to create a regulation station, has become something much more. Today, it is known by students and staff as The Lion’s Toolbox, a welcoming de-escalation space where students can “find their calm and roar with confidence.”

Walk into the room and you immediately feel the intention behind it. Soft seating. Sensory tiles that glow with movement under small feet. A carefully organized wall of tools, from body socks and weighted lap pads to fidget boxes and desk pedals. A friendly lion greets students from the wall, reminding them that strength is not about volume, it is about control.

But the power of the Lion’s Toolbox is not just in the tools. It is in the process.

When students enter the room, they begin by identifying their current emotional zone. Are they feeling overwhelmed? Frustrated? Sleepy? Restless? Naming the feeling is the first step toward managing it.

From there, students choose a tool designed specifically for what they need in that moment. A student who feels hyper may choose a calming sensory activity. A student who feels sluggish may choose a more active regulation strategy. An eight minute timer gives them structured time to reset. When the timer ends, students reflect on how the tool helped and complete a brief evaluation sheet before returning to class.

If a particular strategy proves especially effective, Corrina can help replicate it in the classroom. Small tools that support regulation can travel with students, reinforcing independence and self awareness beyond the Lion’s Toolbox walls.

Corrina knew that creating a space like this required thoughtful planning. After receiving the grant, she collaborated with Martha Mann, occupational therapist for Goddard Public Schools, and Tori Elliott, speech pathologist. Together, they developed a structured system to maximize impact and ensure consistency for both students and staff.

Research supports what they are already seeing in practice. Sensory based interventions and structured regulation spaces reduce classroom disruptions, increase on task behavior, and strengthen emotional control. The Regulation Station proposal highlights that up to one in four elementary students experience difficulty regulating emotions that impact learning. Providing proactive support helps prevent behaviors before they escalate.

For Clark Davidson Elementary, this means fewer reactive moments and more intentional support.

It also means greater staff confidence. In the past, when a student became dysregulated, options were limited. With limited space, oftentimes a staff member’s office served as the only alternative space for intervention. Now, any trained staff member can guide a student to the Lion’s Toolbox and follow a consistent, schoolwide process. The space was built intentionally to support teachers, paraprofessionals, and ultimately every student in the building.

The impact extends even further. Students who demonstrate growth in self regulation can earn time in the room as an incentive. Staff training videos are being developed so that the Lion’s Toolbox model remains purposeful, specific, and sustainable at Clark Davidson Elementary. Data will be reviewed to measure success, evaluate student growth, and guide future investments in the space.

At its heart, this is about more than calming down. It is about teaching students how to recognize emotions, practice coping strategies, and return to learning with confidence. It is about building lifelong skills that strengthen academic engagement, peer relationships, and emotional well being.

Because when students learn how to regulate, they do not just manage the moment, they ROAR!