Voices of ZCS:
Eagle Elementary
Literacy Coach
Marissa Grant
At Eagle Elementary, literacy coach Marissa Grant works alongside teachers and students to strengthen reading instruction and help every student grow.
And her work goes beyond the classroom.
Grant also helped launch the Senior VIP Eagle Reader program, bringing community volunteers into schools to read with students and build connections.
In this Voices of ZCS conversation, Marissa reflects on growing up in a family of educators, what she has learned from students, and why the small moments in a school day matter so much.
Watch the conversation below, then continue reading to learn more about her journey and the impact of literacy at Eagle Elementary School.
Eagle Elementary School Literacy Coach Marissa Grant sits down with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman in this Voices of ZCS feature
Building Readers.
Building Community.
Helping every reader grow at Eagle Elementary School
Eagle Elementary Literacy Coach helps students, teachers, and the community discover the power of reading
For Marissa Grant, education has always been more than a profession. It is part of her story.
“My mom was a third-grade teacher at the school I grew up in, and my dad was an eighth-grade teacher,” she said. “From a small town, people would come up to them and say, ‘Mrs. Allen’ or ‘Mr. Allen.’ I think even as a kid I understood that they were making a difference.”
Inspired by their example, Grant followed the same path.
“I was encouraged to become an educator from them, which I think is a good thing,” she said. “My brother is also an educator, so it has always been part of our life.”
Today, Grant serves as the literacy coach at Eagle Elementary School, a role that allows her to work alongside the school's teachers and students.
Supporting Every Reader
After spending years in the classroom, Grant says the transition into literacy coaching opened a new perspective on teaching and learning.
“It was really exciting to have the opportunity,” she said. “As a coach, I get to see all the instructional decisions teachers make on a day-to-day basis and be alongside them to support anything they need.”
That partnership with teachers is one of the things she values most.
“We’ve had a lot of transitions here at Eagle,” she said. “Being able to support teachers as they navigate those changes has been such a fulfilling part of this role.”
The position also allows Grant to impact every student in the building.
“It gives you a bird’s-eye view,” she said. “You get to see all the amazing things happening and know that you are supporting students across the entire school.”
Eagle Readers
Eagle Readers
Connecting the Community to Reading
Grant has also helped build connections between the school and the community through the Eagle Reader program.
The idea came from a simple conversation.
“It was actually something my mom does in her school district,” Grant said. “I asked if it might be something we could try in Zionsville.”
With support from district leaders and community volunteers, the program quickly took off.
“Our first year we had about nine or ten volunteers,” she said. “Now it’s grown to three schools.”
Senior VIPs read with students, creating connections between students and adults in our community.
“Kids love it,” Grant said. “And the community always says, ‘Thank you for letting us come in.’ It’s really been a successful program.”
Eagle Readers
Eagle Readers
Eagle Learning Showcase
Eagle Learning Showcase
Learning That Goes Beyond the Classroom
Eagle Elementary also creates opportunities for families and community members to see student learning firsthand through events like the school's Learning Showcase.
“We really like having community partners involved in those projects,” Grant said. “Students realize they can learn from people outside of school, too.”
From local professionals to organizations across the community, the event helps students connect their learning to the world around them.
“It shows families what students are capable of,” she said. “And it helps students see that what they’re learning goes beyond our four walls.”
A Parent’s Perspective
Grant’s connection to Zionsville Community Schools extends beyond her role as an educator.
She is also a parent in the district.
“It’s been amazing to see all the educators who have made a difference for my son,” she said.
When she asked him recently about the teachers who impacted him most, he could easily name someone from every stage of his education.
“That meant a lot to me,” Grant said. “It shows how many people in this community invest in kids.”
Finding Joy in the Everyday Moments
For Grant, some of the most meaningful moments happen in the ordinary parts of the school day.
“Every day is a new day,” she said. “People come to school happy to be here, and that really shows.”
Helping Students Discover the Power of Learning
Working with students every day continues to shape Grant’s perspective as an educator.
One lesson stands out.
“When students realize that what they are learning builds on itself, it’s a big moment,” she said. “They understand that if they learn this skill, it will help them with the next one.”
That realization creates ownership.
“They start to see that learning is progressive,” Grant said. “And when that happens, they buy in.”
At Eagle Elementary, that understanding goes even further.
“Students know that we learn something so we can do something with it,” she said. “That idea gives kids so much power.”
A champion for students and educators
Through her work helping students discover the joy of reading, supporting teachers, and connecting community members with classrooms, Marissa Grant is helping shape the culture of Eagle Elementary.
And every morning, as the school day begins and the halls fill with conversations and laughter, she is reminded why she chose this path.
“It’s exciting to know that every day is a fresh start,” she said. “And that we get to be part of helping kids grow.”
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."
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