As the school year comes to an end, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness visited local classrooms to award over $88,500 in funding as part of the City of Fishers’ Educator Innovation Grant program.
Launched in 2024, the program strives to empower educators within HSE Schools with the financial resources to bring innovation to the classroom and inspire students to rethink learning. Since its inception, the City has awarded 28 grants totaling $473,093 to support classroom innovation. Grants have been awarded at every grade level across the district, helping to launch innovative makerspaces; supporting programming in STEM, virtual reality, film, media, and English as a New Language (ENL); and funding professional development opportunities for teachers.
The new round of grant recipients focuses on expanding technology at both local high schools, with recipients including:
Jeffrey Fronius (Fishers High School, Engineering Department): $13,900 to purchase a laser cutter to expand student learning in engineering and robotics. By bringing this tool into the classroom, students will be able to fabricate and design onsite, instead of leaving the school to gain hands-on experience. Along with integration into engineering courses within the Project Lead the Way curriculum, this tool will also help to grow the skills of the FRC #5010 Tiger Dynasty Robotics Team, which earned finalist honors and secured the FIRST Engineering Inspiration Award at a statewide competition this spring.
Braden Tribolet & Adam Good (Fishers High School, Media & Marketing Department): $59,854 to modernize equipment within the school’s growing media program. Through integrating modern tools like drones, podcasting equipment, professional-grade cameras and stabilization equipment, students will explore emerging media formats that are shaping today’s media landscape to build competitive portfolios that mirror collegiate and industry expectations.
Lisa Brown (Fishers High School, Photography & Yearbook): $12,933 to purchase two professional-grade cameras to capture content for yearbook, the student-run newspaper, social media channels, and district-wide art shows. By providing enhanced access to professional-grade equipment, students can capture high-quality images in challenging and dynamic environments like sporting events and performing arts productions and prepare for future careers in visual arts and media.
Risa Petty (Hamilton Southeastern High School): $1,820 to create a switch-accessible Office & Garden Work Zone for HSE’s Special Education Department to build vocational independence, work habits, and community transferable skills. By using switch-activated tools that replicate real-world office and garden routines, students with limited motor control can perform the same tasks as their peers and their experience for future careers.
Grants are awarded by a selection committee comprised of former educators from HSE Schools, community entrepreneurs, and HSE alumni. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and there is no funding cap for project requests. The next round of grants will be awarded in fall 2026.
Learn more about the grant program and apply at FishersIN.gov/InnovationGrant.
