WGU Missouri Awards More than $9,800 in Grants to 15 STL Teachers

Fifteen K-12 teachers from the St. Louis area have received grants totaling $9,828 through WGU Missouri’s “Fund My Classroom” initiative. The grants will be used to fund innovative classroom projects that foster learning in new, unique ways. The 15 teachers who received the funding from the St. Louis area include:

· Erika Ellis, a kindergarten/first-grade teacher at Meramec Elementary in the St. Louis Public School District, who received a $500 grant to purchase decodable books to help her early readers learn how to read and comprehend what they are reading, as well as encourage them to practice the skills they are learning.

· Dr. Dianna Isaac-Johnson, a music teacher at Northview Elementary School in Jennings, who received a $600 grant to purchase musical instruments for her “STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Over the Digital Divide in Music” program, which will encourage her 600 students in grades K-6 to learn about technical fields in music while developing the skills to read, compose, write and produce music.

· Tasha Jordan, a science teacher at Johnson-Wabash sixth-grade center in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, who received a $732 grant for a hands-on science activity, where students get to act as lead scientists, studying the spread of germs and bacteria and determining which cleaning supplies are most effective against them. With the grant she is purchasing a molecular model biochemistry kit, a bacteria science kit and a digital microscope and accessories for her students to complete this project.

· Amanda Joyce, a fifth-grade teacher at Lusher Elementary in the Hazelwood School District, who received a $300 grant to purchase diverse books for her classroom library so that her students can read about characters in uplifting story lines who look like them.

· Therese Meres, a Special School District ELA and Special Education teacher at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School, who received a $250 grant to create a calming corner – a safe space for students who need a break – in her classroom.

· Tyson Sigette, a STEM teacher and esports coach at Fox Senior High School in Arnold, who received a $1,700 grant to incorporate a “shoutcasting booth” into the school’s esports program, providing students – especially those interested in broadcasting – a hands-on opportunity to learn how to use technology to stream like a professional.

· Jolene Smith, a literacy teacher at Ridgewood Middle School in the Fox C-6 School District in Arnold, who received a $240 grant to purchase popular, diverse and current books that are not available in the school or local library to add to her classroom. Her goal is to set up a book café in her classroom, with reserved café tables for specific genres where students can sample books (and snacks) and record feedback to guide them in finding new books they would like to read

· Emily Brunton, a fourth-grade teacher at Fairmount Elementary School in the Francis Howell School District, who received a $250 grant to further engage students by purchasing book sets that are of high-interest to them and range in reading levels.

· Mandy Jorn, a fifth-grade teacher at Fairmount Elementary School in the Francis Howell School District, who received a $300 grant to purchase a variety of books as part of an author study unit. In this unit, students choose an author they want to study, and read books by the same author to compare the characters, plots, settings, and themes the author used.

· Erin Shepard, a fourth-grade teacher at Discovery Elementary in the Orchard Farm School District in St. Charles, who received a $2,363 grant to purchase iPads and other accessories to incorporate filmmaking across the curriculum in her classroom and to launch a film appreciation afterschool club.

· Dr. Jenny Gray, a library media specialist at Sorrento Springs Elementary in Ballwin, who received an $850 grant to transform the area outside the library window into an outdoor reading courtyard, featuring comfortable outdoor seating, steppingstones and a sunshade.

· Lisa Bosslet, a Special School District special education teacher at Barretts Elementary in the Parkway School District in Manchester, who received a $63 grant to purchase story books and strategy cards that are supporting materials for the Zones of Regulation curriculum she uses to teach students how to manage their feelings, whether they are at school or home.

· PJ Creek, an eighth-grade science teacher at Carriel Junior High School in O’Fallon, Ill., who received a $480 grant to purchase a set of books for his entire eighth grade science class to provide more engaging reading materials to his students.

· Pastor Alan Crockett, a K-8th grade teacher at American Christian Academy in Godfrey, Ill., who received a $1,000 grant to purchase an iPad and computer for his Christian principles class.

· Erin Sims, a third-grade teacher at Albert Cassens Elementary School in the Edwardsville School District, who received a $200 grant to purchase a diverse set of reading materials for her third-grade classroom.

The innovative classroom projects were among 65 in Missouri and Illinois chosen by WGU Missouri to receive funding. The nonprofit university issued a call in March for K-12 teachers across the area to nominate proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding through its “Fund My Classroom” initiative. More than 400 nominations were received. All grants were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week, which ran from May 3 – 7.

“We were happy to read about all the amazing projects our teachers have planned and are excited we can bring so many to life through our ‘Fund My Classroom’ initiative,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “This past year has been a challenging one for both teachers and students as they were forced to adapt to new styles of teaching and learning. This initiative is an opportunity for WGU to celebrate teachers and thank them for their dedication to educating and positively impacting their students, while enhancing learning for students – both in and out of the classroom.”

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.

About WGU Missouri
WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Established in 2013 through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $7,000 per year for most programs.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Nursing College programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and the Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).