Foundation awards mini-grants to Villa Park School District 45 staff
On December 15, 2025, the District 45 Foundation for Excellence in Education awarded three mini-grants to staff members at Villa Park School District 45 schools. Superintendent Dr. Brian Graber joined Foundation Board members to deliver the grants, which totaled more than $2,400 for the 2025-26 school year.
Jenna Gerber, a speech-language pathologist, and Amy O’Callaghan, a special education teacher at D45 Early Childhood Center, received funding for their proposal titled "Moving Minds, Growing Bodies." The grant will help update and expand gross-motor toys and equipment at the center. Their application stated: “These materials are an essential part of our daily activities, helping children develop key skills in gross and fine motor movement, social interaction, sensory processing and early academics.”
The grant will provide equipment such as balance bikes, stepping stones, tumbling mats and climbing sets for both indoor and outdoor use. The materials aim to encourage movement and active play while supporting children's development of coordination and confidence.
Earlier in October 2025, the Foundation asked District 45 staff to submit proposals for innovative projects not covered by the district’s regular budget. The Board reviewed applications in December and selected three recipients. Each mini-grant provided up to $1,000 in funding. These mini-grants are offered alongside the Foundation’s regular grant program each spring.
Other recipients included Anne Blyth and Luciana Romeo from Ardmore Elementary School for "Ardmore’s Indoor Plant Nursery, Year 2" ($982.14), and Michael Harter with Cheryl Wolf from North Elementary School for "Curiosity in a Bin: Making Books Accessible for All" ($467.73).
District 45 staff can apply for regular grants starting February 2026; awards will be announced in May with implementation during the same school year.
Throughout the year, the District 45 Foundation raises funds to support these programs. Its next fundraiser event is scheduled for February 6.
Villa Park School District 45 serves DuPage County schools including Ardmore Elementary School and North Elementary School among others (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data, the district has over 220 teachers with an average salary of $74,159 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The student population is diverse: about 43 percent White, over a third Hispanic, nearly eight percent Black and just over eight percent Asian (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020, per-student spending was $23,216 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).