Two Fairmount Elementary Teachers Receive Grants from WGU Missouri

Two teachers at Fairmount Elementary School in the Francis Howell School District were recently awarded grants through WGU Missouri's “Fund My Classroom” initiative. Katie Mills, a kindergarten teacher, received a $520 grant that will be used to purchase classroom resources and supplies, while Kelly Aquino, a second-grade teacher, received a $695 grant to enhance her classroom library. Both Mills and Aquino learned they were selected for the grants on May 9 when they were surprised with check presentations at their school.

With the $520 grant she received, Mills plans to purchase essential classroom supplies, books and organizational bins, as well as fun and engaging manipulatives and play items that will enrich her kindergarten students’ learning experience. The grant will enable Mills to provide her students with a more stimulating and well-rounded educational environment, which can enhance their cognitive development, foster creativity and imagination and promote a love of learning that can last a lifetime.

Aquino will use the $695 grant she received to revamp her classroom library. She plans on adding a variety of new books, floor cushions, book stands, posters and bookshelves that feature sitting nooks. These items will fulfill her vision of having a classroom library that is welcoming, with places for students to sit and read or collaborate and learn with their peers. Having a well-stocked and comfortable classroom library provides numerous benefits for students, including improved reading comprehension, increased literacy skills and a love for reading. By gaining access to a variety of books, students can explore their interests and expand their knowledge, leading to academic success and setting them up for lifelong learning.

The innovative classroom projects were among 44 across Missouri chosen by WGU Missouri to receive funding. The nonprofit, fully online university issued a call in early March for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate proposed classroom projects by April 14 for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding through its “Fund My Classroom” initiative. Nearly 200 nominations were received statewide. Most grants were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week, which ran from May 8-12.

“This is the fifth consecutive year we have been able to offer grant funding to deserving teachers across the state through our ‘Fund My Classroom’ initiative, and we were so moved by all the nominations we received,” said Jessica Denham, Regional Director of WGU Missouri. “While we aren’t able to support all the projects that were nominated, we are excited to award funding to dozens of teachers who have come up with unique and innovative ways to improve their classrooms in order to promote learning and provide an enriching experience for 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.

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 80 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 $7,600 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).