On Monday, Aug. 16, during the opening day of orientation for employees of the Warren County R-III School District, two teachers at Rebecca Boone Elementary learned they had each won a $500 classroom grant awarded by the Missouri Retired Teacher Foundation (the charitable arm of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association & Public School Employees).

MRTA is divided into 14 regions and each region can award up to eight $500 classroom grants. There are also 10 statewide grants available for school employees who are under the PEERS part of the retirement system. These employees do not hold teaching or administrative positions.

Region 13 covers four counties: Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles, and Warren. Two of Region 13’s eight potential grants were awarded to teachers in the Warren County R-III School District. Those winners were both from Rebecca Boone Elementary – Donna Sherman and Shari Leppanen.

They were completely surprised when Sherry Brandes, Region 13 vice president, announced their names to the district staff at their opening meeting on Monday morning. Later that morning Sherry Brandes, Marsha Burns, and Guy Schreck, all members of the Daniel Boone Area Retired Teachers and Public School Personnel Association of Missouri (DBART & PSPAM) awarded them their certificates and the $500 check to allow them to purchase materials they need to incorporate new projects into the curriculum for their classes this year.

“We congratulate them on their initiative and efforts to provide the best for their students. We hope all of the students and employees of Warren County R-III have a successful year,” said Brandes.