The Missouri State Teachers Foundation awards grants to teachers monthly, and all MSTA members are eligible to apply. Here are a few ways previous grant winners have utilized their funds:
- Stacey Block, a pre-K teacher at Grandview R-2, received a $100 Classroom Grant from MSTF which she used to expand access to immersive centers in her classroom. She purchased lamination supplies and manipulatives with the money. “Each day we rotate between five centers within the classroom,” Block said. “They include colors, shapes, letters, numbers, letter sounds and letter of the week readers. We have so many different levels of learners in Pre-K and these hands-on activities promote individual learning.”
- Stephanie Crank (Sweet Springs R-7) used her $100 MSTF grant to purchase spot on sight word makers for her carpet, as well as decodable readers.
- A. Grace Cronin (Springfield Public Schools) received a $100 MSTF grant, which she used to purchase books for her 5th grade class. “THANK YOU for selecting our classroom to be a recipient of the Classroom Grant Award,” she said. “The grant for Look and Listen Learning went towards the purchase of a literature set that we will use for a whole class book club!”
- Lisa Simms (Centralia R-6) purchased a document camera with her MSTF grant money in spring 2022. “I like modeling how to complete graphic organizers, write stories and solve math problems,” she said. “My class is very motivated to talk through their thoughts when they are able to explain and draw it in front of the whole class.”
The MSTF classroom grant application is accepted throughout the year, running from Aug. 1-July 31 of each year. There will be two grants awarded per month for a total of 24 grants throughout the year. Applicants only need to submit one application to be eligible for the year. These grants provide funding to assist teachers in positively impacting student success in the classroom. Visit mostf.org for more information.
