Voices of ZCS:
MacKenzie Luse talks about the joy of kindergarten
For some educators, teaching is a calling discovered later in life. As a Zionsville Community Schools graduate, Boone Meadow Elementary School teacher, MacKenzie Luse, represents the powerful full-circle story of students who return home to serve the next generation.
In this Voices of ZCS conversation, Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman sits down with Luse to reflect on community traditions, mentorship, the joy of kindergarten, and why Zionsville continues to feel like magic.
Watch the video interview with Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman below.
Boone Meadow Kindergarten Teacher MacKenzie Luse sits down with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman in this Voices of ZCS feature
Teaching Where the Magic Began
A Full-Circle ZCS Story
Boone Meadow Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher Mackenzie Luse reflects on growing up in Zionsville and giving back to the community that shaped her
MacKenzie Luse knows Zionsville Community Schools from every angle. She walked its hallways as a student from kindergarten through senior graduation, cheered on Eagle teams, sang in the show choir, marched in parades, and celebrated the traditions that made school feel special. Today, she opens her own classroom door each morning as a kindergarten teacher at Boone Meadow Elementary School, welcoming students into that same sense of belonging she felt as a young Eagle.
“I went to Zionsville from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade,” Luse shared. “I had wonderful teachers and friends. It was such a special place to grow up. Coming back to give to a place that gave so much to me is truly an honor.”
As a student, Luse remembers a community that showed up for everything. Whether it was athletics, music, school celebrations, or neighborhood traditions, the community always rallied together. EagleFest, parades, elementary school traditions, and seasonal celebrations left a lasting impression.
“Elementary school felt like magic,” she said. “It was fun, it was joyful, and it was such a special way to grow up.”
That sense of magic and wonder eventually shaped her career path. While Luse wasn’t initially sure what she wanted to do after high school, one experience changed everything: Zionsville’s cadet teaching program. The dual-credit course class offering placed her in a second-grade classroom at Eagle Elementary School, where she worked alongside a wonderful mentor.
“I completely fell in love with the program,” Luse said. “I fell in love with the kids, the school, the curriculum, and teaching in general. That was really the catalyst that showed me this was something I wanted to do.”
During high school, Luse balanced cadet teaching with cheerleading, show choir, and a variety of clubs, staying actively involved and deeply connected to school life. After graduating from Zionsville Community High School, she attended Butler University before returning to Zionsville Community Schools as a teacher, a transition she describes as both exciting and affirming.
From the interview process forward, Luse felt supported by mentors and colleagues. One of the most influential figures in her journey was local resident Theresa Meyer, a college professor and community parent who guided her through early career decisions.
“She’s been one of the biggest mentors I’ve ever had, professionally and personally,” Luse said.
When Luse interviewed at Boone Meadow Elementary School, she immediately felt at home. She describes the school as a place that genuinely cares about kids and staff alike. She has now spent seven years teaching kindergarten, along with time in first grade, navigating early teaching years with the support of a close-knit team.
“The people here are the kindest people I’ve ever met,” she said. “Everyone rallies around each other. They help you build your craft and support you in your strengths and the areas where you need help.”
Luse credits strong leadership and collaboration for creating a positive environment. She highlights Boone Meadow Principal Tom Hundley's supportive leadership style and Assistant Principal Jarrod Gatlin's visible presence in classrooms, noting how students know him by name and always want to invite him to participate in their learning.
Her kindergarten teammates are more than colleagues.
“They’re family,” Luse said. “If you ever have a need, they’re right there. There’s nothing they wouldn’t do for you.”
She also acknowledges the many educators throughout the building who have opened their classrooms and shared their practice while emphasizing that Boone Meadow remains a learning space not only for students, but for teachers as well.
Despite opportunities to move grade levels, Luse remains deeply committed to kindergarten. She is drawn to the energy, honesty, and growth that define the youngest learners.
“School still feels magical to them,” she said. “They’re excited about the bus, lunch, and the first day of school. You see so much growth from day one to the end of the year, not just academically, but socially and emotionally.”
Luse sees her role as more than teaching content. She helps students learn problem solving, friendship skills, and resilience.
“It’s not a job I take lightly,” she said. “These kids are growing into little people who will be big parts of our world.”
For families preparing to send their first child to kindergarten, Luse offers reassurance. She understands the emotions firsthand, having recently dropped her own child off at daycare for the first time.
“I know how hard it can be to leave your child somewhere new," she said. "The people here care deeply. They love the kids and want the best for them. Kindergarten in this district is such a supportive place.”
Each day, Luse wants her students to feel safe, supported, and brave.
“I want them to know I’m here for the good days and the hard days,” she said. “I want them to know they can keep going because they have someone who has their back.”
In the classroom, Luse delights in hands-on learning and storytelling. Kindergarten students explore Wit & Wisdom units such as farm stories, science lessons on plants and animals, and end-of-year world studies that allow students to share their backgrounds and learn about different cultures. Laughter, movement, curiosity, and connection fill the room.
Some of her favorite moments come unexpectedly, like when a student once summed up the year’s learning simply by saying, “Everyone is a nice person.”
“To me, that was everything,” Luse said. “Seeing the good in others and pulling it out.”
Whether it’s the sound of giggles in the hallway, the smell of French toast sticks at lunch, or the excitement of kindergarten students discovering something new for the first time, Luse finds joy in the everyday moments.
And every morning, she returns to the place where her own story began, helping create that same sense of magic for a new generation of Eagles.
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."
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