It wasn’t your average morning in District 66—unless your average includes surprise funding and a lot of very happy teachers!
TEAM 66 was on the move, awarding its 2026 Enrichment Fund Grants and turning routine starts to the day into something much more memorable. By the time the rounds were finished, $36,691.59 had been awarded to classrooms across the district—fueling ideas that are about to get very real.
The headline moment? A standout grant of $24,603 awarded to Tara Herndon for her Versatile Learning Hubs grant request to completely reimagine all three learning commons at Prairieview. The plan: transform dated spaces into modern, flexible environments designed for collaboration, creativity, and the way students actually learn today.
And yes—this is exactly where all those fundraiser dollars go!
TEAM 66 isn’t just active during grant season. Throughout the year, they’re behind some of the upgrades students and families notice most—like the two enormous LED screens bringing Lakeview’s main gym into the future for major events, and the wildly popular Gaga Ball pits at Ide and Prairieview. And that’s just scratching the surface.
What made this morning stand out wasn’t just the dollar amount—it was the momentum. Quick stops turned into mini celebrations, and the buzz carried..
It’s a simple formula with a big impact: community support in, meaningful opportunities out. And today was a pretty great reminder of what that looks like in action.
Check out a full list of grants awarded and pictures from the excitement here!