Bryan Middle School Teacher Receives Grant from WGU Missouri

Andrea Jandt, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Bryan Middle School in the Francis Howell School District, has received a $300 grant from WGU Missouri. The funds will be used to purchase tripods and green screens to aid in student learning.

Jandt believes the best way for her students to become more engaged when it comes to learning history is to offer opportunities for them to be creative. The tripods and green screens will allow students to create movie trailers, infomercials, newscasts, game shows, documentaries, election-style debates and more. These pieces will expand Jandt’s ability to offer real-world opportunities and enhance learning in her classroom.

Bryan Middle School is one of 15 schools across Missouri chosen by WGU Missouri to receive funding for innovative classroom projects. The nonprofit university issued a call this spring for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding through its inaugural “Fund My Classroom” initiative. Jandt’s proposal was one of more than 200 nominations received statewide. All grants were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.

“We received many innovative and unique ideas from teachers specifying how they plan to improve their classrooms, and we’re so pleased we can help bring several of them to fruition,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “This inaugural initiative is an opportunity for WGU Missouri to celebrate teachers and thank them for the lasting, positive impact they have on their students.”

To learn more about the Fund My Classroom initiative and the work WGU Missouri is doing to help teachers advance their careers, visit missouri.wgu.edu.