Alumna Giselle Ziegler ’22 6th Year has been named the Neag School of Education’s 2025 Rogers Educational Innovation Fund award winner. Ziegler teaches music at Odyssey Community School in Manchester, Connecticut.
The Rogers Educational Innovation Fund, designated by the late Neag School of Education Professor Emeritus Vincent Rogers and his late wife, Chris, a lifelong teacher, provides a $5,000 annual award to support innovative projects by Connecticut elementary or middle school teachers. The gift is intended to support and expand the innovative, collaborative work of Connecticut’s classroom teachers and the Neag School of Education. This is the sixth year that the award has been bestowed.
Ziegler’s project is titled “Harmony in Diversity: Building Cultural Awareness and Musical Equity,” and aims to enhance cultural awareness and musical equity at Odyssey Community School by expanding access to instruments and culturally responsive experiences. It will fund new instruments for equitable participation as well as diverse performances and guest speakers. This will foster inclusivity, empathy, and a deeper connection to music across cultures. The project also nods to Vincent Rogers’ own passion for music, as he was a jazz musician in high school and with the West Point military band.
“I look forward to engaging students in musical opportunities outside the classroom in more real-world settings,” Ziegler says. “Imagine taking them to see a live performance of what they’ve studied or bringing in local artists to work with them one-on-one. These experiences could be life changing.”
“Giselle Ziegler’s project at Odyssey Community School stood out to our selection committee, among the other proposed projects, as we recognized its aim of expanding students’ knowledge and experiences with music in ways that were more culturally expansive and inclusive,” says Todd Campbell, professor and head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the Neag School, who chaired the 2025 Rogers Fund selection committee.
We are excited to see this project making an impact in the lives of students at the Odyssey School. — Todd Campbell, professor and chair the 2025 Rogers Fund selection committee
“Giselle’s ambition of getting more instruments in her students’ hands, beyond those they might typically get experiences with, and connecting them with diverse musicians is inspiring,” Campbell says. “We are excited to see this project making an impact in the lives of students at the Odyssey School and showcasing the work of an alum of our celebrated Neag School Music Education program.”
Ziegler will be formally recognized at the 2025 Neag School Alumni Awards Celebration, which will be held at UConn Storrs in March.
From the moment she joined Odyssey, Ziegler says she was struck by the school’s diversity. The Title I public charter school draws students from various towns and socioeconomic backgrounds, creating a melting pot of experiences, traditions, and perspectives. What fascinated her most, she says, was how her students came alive when they saw their cultures reflected in the curriculum.
“I noticed early on that engagement spiked when I introduced music from their heritage, a realization that fueled my passion for creating a more inclusive and culturally responsive program,” she says.
This passion led her to apply for the Rogers award, with the hope that it could help transform her music program from a fledgling endeavor into a thriving, dynamic space for students to explore, create, and connect. With the funding, she envisions expanding the school’s instrumental resources and providing opportunities for her students to experience music in ways they had never imagined.
Odyssey Community School has already introduced cultural presenters to its students through previous grant funding. Two years ago, Ziegler invited a North Indian Kathak dancer, Rachna Agrawal, to share the rhythms and traditions of her homeland. The following year, Ghanaian musician Iddi Saaka taught students the vibrant beats of West African drumming and dance. Most recently, they hosted Tere Luna, a Mexican folkloric presenter whose lively singing and dancing filled the halls with energy. Each visit had been met with enthusiasm, Ziegler says, but she wanted to take it further — beyond the classroom walls and into the world.
At Odyssey, music education is still finding its footing. With limited instruments and a single teacher balancing general, vocal, and instrumental music for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students, the challenges are significant. One of Ziegler’s main goals with the Rogers award is to provide equitable access to instruments. Many students can only engage with music during class, but Ziegler dreams of students taking instruments home, practicing, and truly immersing themselves in their craft.
“It’s about allowing them to practice at home, to develop their skills beyond the classroom,” she says. “Right now, that’s something missing; this award could change that.”
This grant will change the lives of so many students at Odyssey… And to be able to contribute to the legacy of Professor Rogers, someone who was so passionate about music — it means everything to me. — Giselle Ziegler ’22 6th Year
Beyond the instruments, Ziegler’s approach to teaching is deeply rooted in inclusivity. She follows the philosophy of educator and author Alfie Kohn, emphasizing content, community, and choice — three key elements that she believes are essential to student success.
“If I’m providing them with content that’s engaging and relevant to their cultures, creating a community where they feel safe and respected, and giving them choices in how they learn, then I’m doing my job,” she says.
As she wrote her Rogers award proposal, these principles were at the front of her mind. She imagined a classroom where every student saw themselves represented; their cultural backgrounds were acknowledged and celebrated; and music was a bridge that connected them all. She knows that when students feel seen and valued, they are more willing to take risks, explore their creativity, and truly invest in their learning.
Her long-term vision includes integrating the learning bolstered by this grant into Odyssey’s unique “Community Periods.” These Friday sessions involve the whole school and allow students to explore topics of interest beyond the traditional curriculum, and school surveys have shown a strong desire for more engagement with culture through music. Ziegler sees this as the perfect opportunity to use the Roger award’s resources to culminate in a schoolwide event celebrating the diverse musical traditions of their community.
“One of our trimesters could be dedicated to showcasing what students have learned through this project,” she suggests. “It could be a performance, an exhibition, or even an interactive workshop. The possibilities are endless.”
When reflecting on the donors who make the Rogers award possible every year, Ziegler says she is filled with gratitude.
“First and foremost, thank you,” she says. “This grant will change the lives of so many students at Odyssey, not just now but for generations to come. And to be able to contribute to the legacy of Professor Rogers, someone who was so passionate about music — it means everything to me.”
Read more about the Rogers Educational Innovation Fund at rogersfund.uconn.edu.
