NEVC R-I High School teacher, Kathleen Day awarded $500 Classroom Grant from MRTF

Present for the $500 Classroom Grant presentation from left are Chris Hudson, NEVC HS Principal; Charles Naas, NEVC Superintendent; Kathleen Day, $500 grant winner; and Arleta Godwin, MRTA Region 6 Vice President. Submitted photo

Nevada Daily Maial

The Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation presented Kathleen Day of the NEVC R-1 School District with a $500 check at the all-staff back-to-school workshop Aug. 18. The $500 award, presented by MRTA Region 6 Vice President Arleta Godwin, will assist with Day's classroom project of purchasing various materials for her art students to study Asian culture culminating in a 'Tour of Japan' exhibit and research trip to the Johnson County Community College annual Japan Festival

The MRTF, organized in 2001, is a tax exempt 501 (c)(3) charitable corporation devoted to raising funds to carry out certain charitable, educational, scientific, and literary purposes of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Public School Personnel. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.

MRTA, organized in 1960, is an association of nearly 25,000 education retirees where members strive to uphold and improve the integrity, value, and mission of our public schools so that all school personnel may live healthy, vital lives and be secure economically, socially, and professionally in retirement, noted a press release.

This year statewide, there were 250 applications for the 2015-16 Classroom Grants, with 56 grants awarded in the state's 14 regions. Region 6 includes the 9-county area of Bates, Benton, Cedar, Dallas, Henry, Hickory, Polk, St. Clair, and Vernon counties. The Grant Applications were due by June 30, and winners to be awarded their $500 checks by Sept. 15.

The grant applications were to include detailed information in five sections: Title and Description, Purpose of the Project, Evidence of Need, Planning, and Proposed Budget Explanation. The 56 grant recipients are asked to provide a one-page summary by April of 2016.

Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded 56 scholarships totaling $56,000 to teachers enrolled in education programs; and 197 classroom grants totaling $98,500.

Teachers welcomed this assistance for many purposes: for example, to purchase books, iPads, reading and math aides, "Baby-Think-It-Over" kits, science project kits, and many, many others. As funding to schools continues to be cut, the demand for financial assistance for classroom supplies and classroom projects continues to increase.

This year, the Foundation awarded another 56 classroom teachers with $500 grants to assist them with funds for classroom projects.

These MRTF Grants are open to active teachers. Any teachers can complete an application and apply for the $500 award. The next MRTF grant process will begin in the spring of 2016. For further information, go to the MRTF website at www.mortf.org.