Voices of ZCS:
Zionsville Community High School Educator Jason Donkersloot
In classrooms filled with design tools and creative problem solving, Jason Donkersloot is helping students build far more than models and machines. As a Project Lead The Way teacher at Zionsville Community High School, he focuses on preparing students for life beyond graduation by teaching critical thinking, communication, and hard work. In this Voices of ZCS conversation, ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman sits down with Donkersloot to reflect on his journey into education, the power of hands-on learning, and why helping students work through challenges is one of the most rewarding parts of his role.
Zionsville Community High School Educator Jason Donkersloot sits down with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman in this Voices of ZCS feature
Problem Solving Comes to Life
Where Engineering, Creativity, and Collaboration Intersect
Zionsville Community High School Project Lead The Way Teacher Jason Donkersloot shares how engineering education helps students problem-solve, collaborate, and discover their future pathways.
Inside Zionsville Community High School, learning is driven by collaboration, design thinking, and hands-on experiences that are fueled by creativity and problem-solving. For Project Lead The Way Teacher Jason Donkersloot who has two decades of experience in education, that environment is exactly where his students thrive.
Donkersloot did not originally plan to become a teacher. He began his college journey studying computer graphics but soon realized he desired working with people. Coaching youth sports and helping with camps helped him recognize that connection and interaction were what made him feel most alive. That realization ultimately led him into the classroom, where he now celebrates 20 years in education and nearly a decade serving students in Zionsville Community Schools.
At Zionsville Community High School, Donkersloot teaches Project Lead The Way engineering courses, including Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and Civil Engineering and Architecture. The coursework is built around authentic learning. Students work through open-ended challenges that require critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and adaptability.
“The foundation of the class is teaching problem-solving skills,” Donkersloot explained. “Then you add in the hands-on projects that really bring it all together. It gives students exposure to different fields and helps them develop skills they can take with them no matter what career path they choose.”
One of his favorite projects is designed to push students outside their comfort zones. In the Engineering Design course, the final course project often does not work on the first attempt. That is intentional.
“It’s almost set up for students to fail,” he said. “But then you see them work through the process. They go from something that doesn’t work at all to building a project that does. Watching that moment of realization and pride is one of the best parts of teaching.”
Donkersloot also appreciates how Zionsville Community Schools has re-designed learning spaces to support instruction. One of the engineering labs now occupies what was once the original 1967 high school cafeteria and kitchen. The transformation reflects the district’s commitment to adapting facilities to meet student learning needs and expanding career-focused opportunities.
Beyond the classroom, Donkersloot invests in building relationships with students. He has coached boys soccer throughout his time at ZCHS and sponsors the Technology Student Association club, which continues to grow in membership. These roles allow him to connect with students in different settings.
“You get to see students in a different light,” he shared. “You build relationships that go beyond the classroom, and that makes a difference when you see them in the hallways or back in class.”
As both an educator and a Zionsville resident, Donkersloot values the strong sense of community. He appreciates the local festivals, parades, and community gatherings as opportunities that connect families, staff, and students beyond school walls.
“There’s still that small-town feel here,” he said. “Even as the community grows, those connections matter. It helps build relationships between families, educators, and students.”
At school, he has especially enjoyed seeing new traditions form, including pep sessions that celebrate not only athletics but also clubs, activities, and student achievements across campus. These moments help unify the student body and highlight the many ways students contribute to the school community.
When reflecting on what makes Zionsville Community Schools stand out, Donkersloot consistently returns to one theme: support. From administrators and families to district partners and Zionsville Education Foundation (ZEF) grant opportunities, he credits the culture of collaboration as a driving force behind student success.
“There’s always a willingness to figure things out and find a way to make things happen,” he said. “That support makes a difference, not just for teachers, but for students.”
Professional development opportunities, including national Project Lead The Way conferences, made possible through the support of the Zionsville Education Foundation, have also allowed Donkersloot to collaborate with educators across ZCS and throughout the country. These experiences reinforce what he sees daily at ZCS.
“When you talk to other teachers and districts, it reminds you not to take what we have here for granted,” he shared. “It’s special.”
For Donkersloot, the most meaningful moments often come long after students leave his classroom. When former students return to share college majors or career paths, it affirms the lasting impact of the work happening inside Zionsville Community Schools.
“When they come back and tell you your class helped them, that’s when you realize it mattered,” he said. “Those moments remind you why you do this.”
Ultimately, Donkersloot views education as a calling rooted in helping others grow. Whether guiding students through technical challenges, coaching on the field, or mentoring through clubs, his focus remains the same: preparing students for life beyond high school.
“Everything we do in our classes are skills they will use no matter what they choose to do,” he said. “Learning how to work through problems, collaborate with others, and adapt to challenges prepares them for whatever comes next.”
Through hands-on learning, strong relationships, and a commitment to student growth, Jason Donkersloot continues to help Zionsville Community Schools students build confidence, resilience, and readiness for the future.
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."
Communications
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