Voices of ZCS:
First Face,
Lasting Impact
How Lynn Kissel helps families find connection, confidence, and belonging from day one in Zionsville Community Schools
Before a student steps into a classroom, before the first bell rings, there is often one person who helps make everything feel just a little more certain.
In this Voices of ZCS conversation, ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman sits down with Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel to talk about what it means to welcome families into Zionsville Community Schools and how those first moments can shape an entire experience.
ZCS Residency Specialist Lynn Kissel sits down with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman in this Voices of ZCS feature
Welcoming Families, Building Belonging
Connection, Community, and the Moments that Matter Most
For nearly two decades, Lynn Kissel has been a constant in Zionsville Community Schools. From her early work with the Zionsville Education Foundation to roles inside school buildings and now as the district’s residency and enrollment specialist, her impact has been both steady and personal.
“I’ve grown up here alongside my kids and alongside this community,” Lynn shared. “It’s meant so much to be able to raise my family here and also serve the district in so many different ways.”
ZCS Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel
She is often one of the very first people a new family meets.
And she understands exactly what that moment means.
“I think parents just want to feel like they’re making a good decision,” she said. “They want their kids to be in a place where they feel safe and supported.”
ZCS Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel
So she starts with connection.
“I always try to learn what their kids love to do outside of school,” Lynn explained. “That helps us get them connected right away.”
ZCS Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel
Sometimes, that connection comes in a simple but meaningful way.
“I’ll say, ‘Would you mind if I put my mom hat on?’” she said. “Because I’ve been here for a long time, and I can help guide them through some of those decisions.”
ZCS Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel
Those small moments matter.
“You can just see a little bit of relief on parents’ faces,” she said. “And for students, especially high school students who are transferring, that’s a big move. They’re thinking about where they’ll sit at lunch, who they’ll connect with. So helping ease that is really important.”
ZCS Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel
Lynn’s work extends far beyond enrollment. Through initiatives like Webs of Support, she helps students at key transition points understand the importance of relationships and the people who anchor them.
“We talk a lot about building your web,” she said. “Who are those people in your life who support you, both in tangible ways and in the things you can’t always see, like encouragement and perseverance?”
ZCS Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel
From fourth graders preparing for middle school to eighth graders stepping into high school, that message stays consistent.
“It’s something they’re going to need to do for the rest of their lives,” Lynn said. “So helping them understand that early is really powerful.”
ZCS Residency and Enrollment Specialist Lynn Kissel
Inside the district’s Customized Learning Program, she brings that same focus to helping students understand themselves.
“Not all kids are told they’re leaders,” she said. “So I think it
Source: zcs-news — Voices of ZCS: First Face, Lasting Impact, 2026-05-12.
