Voices of ZCS:
Building Community Through Enrichment and Connection
As Manager of Eagle Recreation and Enrichment, Ann Hall has spent more than 20 years helping students discover new interests, families find community, and volunteers feel at home in ZCS. Hear how her journey from preschool assistant to enrichment leader has shaped the experiences that make our community special.
In this Voices of ZCS conversation, Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman sits down with Mrs. Hall to reflect on her journey. Watch their conversation below, then read the full story.
Eagle Recreation and Enrichment Manager Ann Hall sits down for a conversation with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman
Building Belonging
A Journey of Service, Growth, and Connection
For more than two decades, Ann Hall has helped Zionsville Community Schools grow programs that bring learning, laughter, and lasting community connections to life.
For more than two decades, Ann Hall has helped shape the connections that make Zionsville Community Schools feel like home. As Manager of Eagle Recreation and Enrichment, a division of the district’s Office of Special Projects, Hall brings together people, programs, and possibilities that extend learning well beyond the school day.
“I started about 20 years ago,” Hall said. “I began in the preschool as an instructional assistant at Pleasant View Elementary when my daughter went to first grade.”
That first step opened doors to a career coupled with a desire to serve. Hall has served as a classroom assistant, PTO co-president, after-prom co-chair, cheer coach, before eventually stepping into the role as a district-wide leader in community enrichment.
“I’ve always loved working with kids,” she said. “Seeing them grow and have fun, that’s what this work is all about.”
A Path Built on Volunteering and Heart
Hall’s deep commitment to volunteering helped her find her calling. She spent years supporting Relay for Life and other community causes before becoming ZCS’s first volunteer coordinator.
“It just felt like a natural fit,” she said. “I had volunteered my whole life, and I loved connecting others to opportunities to give back.”
Through that position, she also helped strengthen the district’s volunteer background check process, transitioning from simple state screenings to comprehensive national checks that keep ZCS students, staff, and volunteers safe.
“It’s been amazing to see how much the program has grown,” she said. “It’s all part of creating a safe, welcoming environment for everyone who steps into our schools.”
Eagle Recreation and Enrichment: Learning Beyond the School Day
Today, Hall leads one of ZCS’s most expansive programs: Eagle Recreation and Enrichment. From after-school classes to summer camps, the program offers hundreds of experiences each year for students and adults alike.
“We have everything from athletics and art to robotics and language programs,” Hall said. “Our early start Spanish program begins in kindergarten and can carry through middle school. It’s incredible to watch students grow in something they started so young.”
Each summer, Eagle Recreation programs reach thousands of participants. This past year alone, more than 4,400 registrations were recorded across 100+ classes spanning from chess to LEGO design and world culture workshops.
“Every year we’re surprised by how much we grow,” Hall said. “Sometimes a new class starts small, and then the next summer it fills because word spreads. Our families are so supportive of new ideas.”
A Heart for Tradition and Community
For Hall, Zionsville’s spirit of togetherness extends far beyond enrichment courses. As a longtime after-prom co-chair, she helped lead an effort to keep students safe during one of the high school's biggest annual traditions.
“It’s such a special event,” she said. “Parents run the casino tables and the kitchen. The decorations are incredible. We even started incorporating scholarships as prizes. It’s just such a fun, safe space for students after prom, and such a great reflection of our community.”
Having lived in Zionsville for more than two decades, Hall describes the town’s sense of connection as its greatest strength.
Favorite Sounds, Seasons, and Memories
When asked what sound defines her work, Hall doesn’t hesitate: laughter.
“Kids laughing, kids having fun. That’s enrichment,” she said. “They work hard all day, and this is their time to play, explore, and be creative.”
She’s also quick to share her affection for fall in the Village including the colors, the community, and the 500 trick-or-treaters who stopped by her door this Halloween.
“It’s so beautiful that time of year,” she said. “Everything about fall here feels like home.”
Her favorite memories, however, circle back to family and friendship.
“Seeing my own kids go through Zionsville Schools, watching how well prepared they were for college, and knowing they still keep in touch with their childhood friend...that’s what makes me proud,” she said. “This is a community that helps kids grow, and they carry that warmth with them long after they leave.”
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."
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