The Baraboo High School (BHS) Class of 1976 is excited to announce the recipients of its 2024 Education Innovation Grants. These grants, established by the Class of 1976 Innovation Fund, support creative and student-centered projects aimed at enhancing learning experiences. This year, $2,000 in funding has been awarded to two standout projects, each receiving $1,000 to bring innovative educational initiatives to life.
Sarah Zindarsich, a Digital Art teacher at Baraboo High School, has been awarded $1,000 to implement her project, “Design Thinking Unites Baraboo High School.” This initiative will guide 34 Graphic Design 1 students through the Design Thinking Model, enabling them to design a product or service that fosters a sense of community and belonging among BHS students. Participants will develop key 21st-century skills, such as problem-solving, collaboration, and communication, while enhancing their graphic design abilities through tools like Adobe Illustrator. The project will take students through each phase of the Design Thinking process—empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing. Students will gather input from their peers to understand current perceptions of the community at BHS, then develop solutions to foster a greater sense of belonging. Potential outcomes could include student-designed apparel, events, or digital resources aimed at building school unity. This project aligns with BHS’s commitment to experiential learning, equipping students with skills critical to today’s workforce, including empathy, leadership, and real-world problem-solving. The project is set to conclude in May 2025.
Technology Education teacher Mark Klang and Instructional Coach Meghan Bauer at Jack Young Middle School also received $1,000 for their project, “Emerging Entrepreneurship.” This initiative, designed for the second semester and a summer school course, introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of business development. Through hands-on experiences, students will create products—ranging from vinyl stickers to handcrafted wooden items—to sell at community events, including the 2025-26 Open House and Fall Fair on the Square. As part of the program, students will develop a business model covering inventory management, cost analysis, marketing, and financial management. The project provides students with opportunities to practice essential skills, such as customer service, teamwork, and project management. By experiencing roles in marketing, sales, and quality control, students will gain valuable insight into the entrepreneurial process. This hands-on program also integrates lessons across content areas, including math and language arts, to reinforce financial literacy and marketing skills.
These initiatives exemplify the BHS Class of 1976’s commitment to fostering innovative, student-centered learning. "We are proud to support these educators and look forward to seeing the positive impact on our students,” shared a representative from the Class of 1976 Fund. For more information on the BHS Class of 1976 Innovation Fund or to learn how you can support student-centered projects at Baraboo Schools, please contact the Baraboo School District office.