IPEF for Teachers
Since our founding in 1988, IPEF has recognized the district’s outstanding teachers and supported their efforts to improve outcomes for their students. The IPEF Teacher Innovation Grants encourage ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking and novel approaches to enhance curricula. The A+ Awards and Gifts of Gratitude reward the many teachers and support staff who go above and beyond for their students and those student’s families.
Active IPEF-funded programs for teachers and staff are listed at the right. Click on any one to learn more about it. Click here to learn how you can help IPEF keep these programs strong and ongoing.
Since our founding in 1988, IPEF has recognized the district’s outstanding teachers and supported their efforts to improve outcomes for their students. The IPEF Teacher Innovation Grants encourage ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking and novel approaches to enhance curricula. The A+ Awards and Gifts of Gratitude reward the many teachers and support staff who go above and beyond for their students and those student’s families.
Active IPEF-funded programs for teachers and staff are listed below. Click on any one to learn more about it. Click here to learn how you can help IPEF keep these programs strong and ongoing.
| Program (click for details) | What It's About |
| Teacher Innovation Grants | Teachers submit ideas for new ways to 'supercharge' curricula and IPEF supplies funds to make it happen. |
| A+ Awards | Parents and students nominate teachers who make a BIG difference. IPEF manages the celebration. |
| Gifts of Gratitude | A new program where parents pay tribute to a special teacher and support IPEF at the same time. |
| TEAM IPEF | Fun way to support IPEF and raise money for your school. Teachers and staff become 'Charity Heroes' of the annual Healthy-Driven Naperville Half Marathon and 5K. |
2022-2023 IPEF Events for Teachers
Events in March–July 2023
- There are no events scheduled during these dates.
 | – indicates IPEF Event. All other items are from IPSD204 calendar. |
Apply for a Teacher Innovation Grant
Grants from $500 to $5000 are available at all grade levels and every district school. If you’ve always wanted to try something new or novel in the classroom, bring in an exceptional guest speaker or take that special field trip, here’s your chance!
The Healthy Driven Naperville Half Marathon and 5K Race is our biggest annual fundraiser. It’s a fun way to connect parents, teachers, students and community members together as TEAM IPEF Charity Runners. Half of the funds you raise go right back to your school ! That’s why so many TEAM IPEF members are teachers.
Share The Word.
Though we try not to be, IPEF is one of the best kept secrets in IPSD204. If you support our efforts, perhaps your colleagues will too! Sharing a link is easy . . .
Meet The Gifts of Gratitude Honorees
Congratulations to the Following 2021-22 Gifts of Gratitude Honorees
* indicates multiple donations were made to honor the teacher/staff member
| Brooks Elementary School Tiffany Avery-Scott, Dot Breske, Mary Ann Dichoso, Renee Golminas, Nadia Ji, Jane Johnson, Katie Kempski, Katherine Phillips-Toms, Sydnee Polk, Terri Russell, Wendy Stanley, Raquel Tamer, Kevin Whyte* |
| Clow Elementary School April Berta, Molly Mackey, Christine Miller, Amy Park |
| Cowlishaw Elementary School Stephanie Acevedo, Nicole Bergquist, Jeremy Cemel, Tatiana Diaz, Nina Golemis, Kim Harper, Cassandra Henry, Daisy Hohnke, Kerry Kearley, Scott Nickel*, Cathie Prochaska, Jose Soto, Cristina Wagoner |
| Crone Middle School Kera Bjerga, Richelle Dicola, Kristin Druwe, Charles Lantz, Nicole Valenza, Eric Williams |
| Fischer Middle School Cynthia Bell, Melissa Lullo |
| Fry Elementary School Denee Anderson, Jeanne Gerdisch, Latia Johnson, Karen Kaloczi, Brian Kulak, Erin Mongelli |
| Gombert Elementary School Lindsay Brandonisio |
| Granger Middle School Matthew Alber, Carla Axt-Pilon, Cynthia Chejfec, Darian Cozzi, Amy Huetson, Jennifer Scinto, Mary Wiora |
| Gregory Middle School Jill Beauregard, Ana Burnopp*, Glenda Gustafson, Christine Henkel, Erica Jovanes, Lori Lauff*, Stephanie Lein*, Nicole Malpica, David Pfenninger, Kevin Reagan, Anne Smith, Jenna Zientek |
| Hill Middle School Patty Brand, Bradley Bywater, Loni Fazio, Sarah Friederich, John Kelsey, Brad Lange, Robert Lunardini, Christopher Michel, Anne O’Neil, Claudia Parker, Bethany Piccininni, Lisa Reigle, Laura Shum, George Vellookunnel |
| Kendall Elementary School Olivia Carroll, Rianne Cascarano, Ellen Dufresne, Jenny Horsey, Piper Kottmann, Jennifer Neufeld*, Suzy Niznik, Rachel Trostle |
| Longwood Elementary School Daniel Ruffo |
| May Watts Elementary School Katherine Drone, Michelle Peterson |
| McCarty Elementary School Valentina Bolger*, Kim Ligeski, Julia Scalzo, Dana Watts, Adrienne Wodka |
| Metea Valley High School Amanda Briggs, Lacy Bugielski, Rachel Cheng, Justin Cronin, Brittany Czerchlanski*, Daniel Debruycker, Darrell Echols, Tye Fox, Hannah Ghassan, Scott Gregory*, Nicholas Grijalva*, Elizabeth Hagen, Jeffrey Heimer, Diane Hendrix, Miranda Kay, Miles Knight, Eric Kramer, Mark Liu, Benaiah Lundy, Aaron Marshall, Christopher Moye, Mihaiela Muresan, Sydney Neukirch, Jonathan Ogrodnik*, Carinae Pellegrini, John Riddle, Timothy Robaczewski, Robin Sackschewsky, Michaela Schlattman, Casey Solgos, Robert Tesmond, Jessica Thomas, Vanessa Troiani*, Nathan Wedam, Kimberly Weiersheuser, Christopher Whaley, Cedric Williams, Thomas Womack, Rob Woolwine, Albert Zika |
| Neuqua Valley High School Danielle Asquini, Emily Binder, Christopher Cebrzynski, Nathan Fitzenreider, John Keller, Kevan Kosobayashi, Michelle La Scola, Jonathan Lauff, Timothy McCoskey, Michael Parton, Brad Pfeil, Dylan Rowan, Ryan Russell, Lauren Sack, Gillian Schneider, Gregory Schwaegler, PJ Serio, Jason Verdin, Elizabeth West |
| Owen Elementary School Francis Conrad, Mary Dolan, Heather Klassen, Allison Scurr |
| Peterson Elementary School Melissa Ambrose, Katherine Ammons, Brittany Bennefield, Heather Consalvo, Victoria Donkin, Brooke Falck*, Allison Landstrom, Kristin Reed, Persis Sidhwa |
| Prairie Children's Pre School Angela Mazzoni, Cyndi Rice |
| Scullen Middle School Jill Koulos, Victor Low |
| Spring Brook Elementary School David Alessia, Courtney Macchiarella, Julia Schnorr, Katelyn Sims, Rosetta Smith |
| Steck Elementary School Janeen Christakes, Nancy Fister, Emily Greenwald, Monika Kelly |
| STEPS Jen Christy, Ryan Loats, Meghan McCallum*, Michael Ackerman*, Ruby Saraf |
| Still Middle School Christopher Crawl, Linda Fortt*, Melissa Hurd, John Lay, John Nickas |
| Waubonsie Valley High School Bryan Acevedo, Nicholas Arens, Brad Caldwell, Kristan Crawford, Mike DiTella, James Donahue*, Kelly Donnellan-Prusila, Amal Elboukari*, Nate Gehrt, Hannah Ghassan, Sandy Goff, Jacqueline Hill, Jen Kastner, Karen Kuhlman, Eugenia Latka, Jason Mead, Debra Peplow, Kelly Prusila, Madison Randol, Diana Schill, David Sieh, Stephen Spinelli*, Jason Stipp, Megan Voitik*, Pam Westfall, Christopher Wolack |
| Welch Elementary School Troy Adams, Mary Kulaga, Michelle Mattia |
| White Eagle Elementary School Kerry DiFusco, Jacqueline Gerard, Jennifer Kokes, Kathy Towle |
