On October 23 and 24, Terry Thoren, founder of Wonder Media and former CEO of Klasky Csupo – the studio behind Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys – spent two days at Chagrin Falls Schools to help launch a new partnership built around Wonder Media’s Story Maker® tool. The visit focused on planning with educators and district leaders and offered a close look at how animation will connect literacy, creativity, and collaboration across grade levels.
In September, the district announced the Story Maker® partnership, a nationally recognized program that invites students to create animated films as part of their learning. The approach aligns with Chagrin Falls’ mission to inspire all to grow and thrive through authentic, high-quality learning that is both rigorous and personal. By combining storytelling and technology, Story Maker® strengthens the district’s commitment to Connect, Create, and Challenge – helping students communicate ideas, work as teams, and express individuality through meaningful creative work.
The visit began at the district’s central office, where Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Penczarski welcomed Thoren and outlined the district’s vision for integrating Story Maker® into classrooms. The conversation centered on how animation can support STEAM learning while giving students authentic ways to practice storytelling, empathy, and collaboration.
“In every animated scene, dozens of artists, writers, and musicians contribute their craft to build one seamless story,” said Dr. Penczarski. “Education is much the same. Across preschool through twelfth grade, our teachers, specialists, and support staff each play a role in shaping a child’s learning journey. When all those pieces work in harmony, the result is a beautiful and complete picture of growth.”
From there, Thoren met with teachers at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School to plan the sixth-grade rollout, focusing on brainstorming prompts, character development, and story structure. He then joined teachers for deeper planning on pacing and cross-curricular connections, reinforcing the district’s commitment to support educators as they bring this innovative program to life.
Thoren also visited Jill Eisert’s animation class to offer insights on technique and the creative process, and met with Chagrin Falls Middle School students engaged in a Community Education project alongside Gurney Elementary Principal Patrick Carpenter. The conversation explored how middle-school students could serve as mentors and creative leaders, linking learning from elementary through high school in the production procrss. On Friday, Thoren visited Nate Bachofsky’s songwriting class to discuss the power of music in storytelling, then concluded the visit at Gurney, where he met with teachers about using Wonder Kids within the elementary framework, including brain breaks and positive-behavior programs. Throughout the visit, he explored how the program might grow – including ways high-school students could contribute original artwork and music to support younger learners.
A Partnership Built on Shared Values
Reflecting on the visit, Dr. Penczarski emphasized how Wonder Media’s philosophy mirrors the district’s focus on belonging, creativity, and growth.
“This partnership brings to life what we mean by high-quality, personalized learning,” she said. “It connects students across grade levels, challenges them to think critically and imaginatively, and creates opportunities for them to see how their unique voices contribute to something larger than themselves.”
As the 2025–26 school year unfolds, students in grades 1 through 6 will build storytelling and animation skills through developmentally appropriate activities. By sixth grade, students will script, design, and produce short films – supported by high-school artists and musicians. A new enrichment club for grades 4 and 5 will connect creativity with leadership, while high-school students will gain real-world experience by contributing to a collaborative creative pipeline.
Story Maker® gives teachers and students a flexible tool that turns ideas into animated stories, strengthens literacy, and invites creativity into daily learning. The launch visit marked the first frame in a story that continues to unfold – one where imagination, collaboration, and purpose come together to help every student grow and thrive.