The School District of Baraboo is pleased to announce the recipients of the Kit Eilertson Family Innovation Fund Grant for the 2024-2025 school year. Established in honor of Kit Eilertson, a former Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator for the District, the grant aims to fund experiential learning opportunities that foster creative and innovative education. This year, two projects have been awarded $1,000 each, both exemplifying Eilertson’s vision of enriching student experiences through hands-on learning both in and out of the classroom.
The first grant recipient is Ryan Kizer, an English Language Arts teacher at Baraboo High School, for his project, the Student Choice Lit Circle Project. Designed for 10th-grade students, this initiative encourages student choice and collaboration in literature discussions, allowing students to select, read, and analyze books of high interest in small-group settings. By promoting peer discussion and meaningful conversations, the project seeks to increase literacy and cultivate a deeper appreciation for reading. The project aligns with the school’s goal to improve literacy rates and ACT reading scores, while also providing an inclusive learning environment for all students, including those with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 plans. The $1,000 grant will be used to purchase additional copies of selected books, ensuring all students have access to engaging reading materials. Through the freedom to choose their reading materials and the opportunity to discuss them, the Student Choice Lit Circle Project aims to foster critical thinking and analysis, sparking a lifelong love for reading.
The second recipient, Leah Brownell, a Physical Education teacher and Garden Club coordinator at Al Behrman Elementary School, was awarded the grant for her project, the ABE Garden Club. The club introduces 4th and 5th-grade students to gardening, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship. Offering hands-on experience in planting, propagating, and harvesting plants, the Garden Club fosters a connection to nature and teaches essential life skills, helping students develop a sense of responsibility, creativity, and teamwork. Each student actively participates in creating and maintaining the school garden, and through this work, they experience a sense of accomplishment and community. The grant will fund resources such as seeds, soil, and crafting materials to sustain the Garden Club’s activities. The club’s impact is seen each year, as students take pride in cultivating the garden and caring for plants they can share with their families. Research supports that outdoor learning experiences positively influence academic performance, health, and social skills, and the ABE Garden Club stands as a prime example of how experiential learning can benefit students both personally and academically.
The Kit Eilertson Family Innovation Fund was created to honor the legacy of Kit Eilertson, who dedicated two decades of service to the Baraboo School District, where she played a central role in pioneering programs like Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination. By funding projects like the Student Choice Lit Circle Project and the ABE Garden Club, the Eilertson family continues her legacy, empowering students and educators to explore creative, hands-on learning opportunities that make a lasting impact.