Those are some big checks. Literal big checks, yes, but also a lot of money for teachers and their students.
The Education Foundation of Wauwatosa, also know as EFW, announced it had awarded more than $180,000 in its latest round of grants, which is the most money given out at once in the organization's 36-year history.
The 16 grants "represent our continued commitment to enriching education for every student in the Wauwatosa School District,” the EFW said in a news release. "Reaching this milestone is especially meaningful as it reflects both the strength of our schools and the generosity of the community that stands behind them."
Each year, EFW invites all school district employees to consider applying for grants in support of projects "maximizing the potential of Wauwatosa Public Schools and its students," with an emphasis on innovation. More than $1.4 million has been awarded in the history of the grant program.
In announcing the 2026 grants, the foundation noted the large sum awarded this year was made possible by the many donations the foundation has received from the community.
"We are deeply grateful to all of our donors, past and present, who believe in public education and invest in the future of our community," EFW said in its news release. "Their generosity directly translates into opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed."
The following are EFW's 16 grant recipients for 2026, according to information posted on the foundation's website:
The Reset Nest - $969
Eisenhower Elementary School – Natilee Green, Adalyn Feilbach, and Elizabeth Bersch
The current regulation space at Eisenhower Elementary School will transform into a dignifying, supportive environment where students can regulate, reset, and return to learning. Developmentally appropriate sensory and calming tools along with resources for students to learn which strategies best support their individual regulation needs will fill the space and equip students with regulation skills and improve their ability to access their education.
Seeing = Understanding: Visual Learning with NumWorks Calculators - $2,970
Wauwatosa West High School – Disha Bhagwat
Outdated TI-84 functionality calculators will be replaced in the AP Statistics classroom with modern, statistics-centered technology at Tosa West. This not only removes the barrier to using better, more accessible tools, but elevates instructional quality through real-time visualizations, simulations, and more intuitive data analysis tools.
Desktop Lasers for the FabLab - $11,818.30
Tosa East High School – Craig Griffie and Francis Kelley
Tosa East will receive two new desktop lasers which will ensure students are able to maintain access to the 2-D design and fabrication elements of course curriculums. These new lasers will expand upon the capabilities of a prior EFW industrial laser grant as software for the two are the same.
Eisenhower Eagles Outdoor Learning Nest - $40,300
Eisenhower Elementary School – Kaitlyn Streiter, Angie Mamayek, and Abbey Jones
An under-utilized school courtyard at Eisenhower will become an outdoor learning environment for all students and staff with the addition of a gazebo. outdoor chalkboard, seating stumps, and an artistic, one-of-a-kind, signature Eagle bench by local artist, Gerald Williamson. This transformation will exponentially improve the function of the courtyard while benefiting both student learning and school culture.
Regulated and Ready to Learn - $3,925.26
Madison Elementary School – Tanya Jahr and Lori Russo
Regulation space at Madison Elementary will gain sensory and regulation tools needed to provide students with a calm space to learn and practice self-regulation strategies so they are able to return to class ready to learn.
Urban Farming - $16,026.84
Longfellow and Whitman Middle Schools – Sarah Lichey, Nicole Nowicki, and Ryan Zierath
An elective class at the middle schools will expand on the curriculum and expose students to different methods of urban farming for winter and summer months with the inclusion of Flex Farm and Gardyn systems.
Thrive at West: Student Skills Workshop & Testing Center - $10,875.92
Wauwatosa West High School – Stephanie Leupold
Two student support spaces will be developed at Tosa West – one in the Academic Resource Center serving as a testing center and the other, Thrive at West, in the library serving as a student skills workshop. Students will now have conducive spaces to focus on tests and work independently with additional materials and resources to support student success.
Raider Room Beautification Project - $16,170
Wauwatosa East High School – Molly Pagryzinski
To foster collaborative and individual learning, flexible academic seating and conference tables will be added to the Raider Room at Tosa East.
Inclusive Communication & Play - $4,500
Eisenhower Elementary School – Renee Saltzman and Erin Notson
An AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) board on Eisenhower’s playground will provide a permanent language fixture for the school community and transform play into inclusive learning.
Beyond the Snapshot: Building Writers Through Photojournalism - $13,454.94
Wauwatosa West High School – Christopher Lazarski
Within the Tosa West journalism program six standardized digital cameras and professional lenses will be added to expand and modernize photojournalism instruction. This equipment will allow more students to engage simultaneously in authentic visual reporting while strengthening writing, media literacy, and student voice.
Stitch to Stage: Costume Design Tools for Students - $3,253.59
Wauwatosa West High School – Adam Steffan
The theatre program at Tosa West will receive four sewing machines, four dress forms, and essential costume design supplies to support hands-on learning in theatrical design, strengthen creative skills development, and prepare students for post-secondary study and careers in the arts.
Let’s Read Non-fiction – Science of Reading Aligned Decodable Texts for K-2 - $4,603.90
Jefferson Elementary School – Cassie Chorak and Rachel Ford
High quality nonfiction decodable readers for K-2 students at Jefferson will provide opportunities for students to practice foundational decoding skills while engaging in meaningful content-rich information in small group instruction and during independent reading.
Playful Pathways to Learning: A Home-School Game and Book Initiative for Kindergarten - $1,813.96
Lincoln Elementary School – Linda Hink
Take home learning kit backpacks with developmentally appropriate board games paired with children’s books will be created for kindergarten students at Lincoln. These resources will strengthen early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills while increasing meaningful family engagement in learning through play at home.
Access to Expression: Adaptive Arts and Music Equipment - $11,456
Wauwatosa East High School – Jen Lato
Tosa East will receive adaptive music and art equipment that will enable individuals with disabilities to fully participate in creative expression in new and unique ways.
Trojan Strong - $26,342
Wauwatosa West High School – Christa Botsford, Nick Vitale, and Matt Good
Moving beyond the traditional physical education model, Tosa West will create an integrated learning environment with new equipment that uses modern tools to build not only stronger bodies, but also data literacy, self-efficacy, and a scientific understanding of health and fitness.
Juvenile Detention Center Technology Innovation - $11,816.12
Vel R Phillips – Bob Pulkowski, Dean Heus, and Carrie Kim
Vel R Phillips will be introducing students to career options in coding, graphic design, video editing, and others using the Adobe Suite of products with the purchase of Apple Mac minis and Wacom One 14 LCD drawing tablets. This allows students to develop basic proficiency with digital tools, strengthen digital literacy, and increase their ability to apply learned skills to real world tasks.
