Steeleville District 138 named as finalist for grant

<span>Steeleville District 138 has been announced as a finalist in this year's America's Farmers Grow Rural Education program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Steeleville is among the top districts in Illinois in the running for grants of $10,000 and $25,000.</span>

<span>Winners will be announced in August.</span>

<span>"We wrote the ($10,000) grant to help our Innovation Garden to give kids more hands-on experience with their Ag. classes and outside education," said Assistant District Superintendent/Steeleville High School Principal Jennifer Haertling. </span>

<span>Earlier this year, farmers nominated their local public school districts to apply for Grow Rural Education grants. Once nominated, school districts were eligible to complete applications requesting funding for a specific math or science project that will enhance curriculum in their district.</span>

<span>"I have always appreciated my teachers' efforts to find funding efforts for our programs and for the farmers for going out of their way to nominate us," Haertling said.</span>

<span>A panel of math and science educators evaluated all of the applications and selected the strongest submissions as finalists.</span>

<span>"Making it to this stage of the process is a great accomplishment that requires a lot time and effort," said Michelle Insco, Monsanto Fund program officer, in a news release. "There is still more to do before we announce our winning school districts, but this year's finalists submitted impressive applications.</span>

<span>"The Monsanto Fund is grateful for their focus on improving math and science opportunities for their students."</span>

<span>Last year, Grow Rural Education invested $170,000 in public school districts across Illinois to improve math and science curriculums. Since 2011, Illinois school districts have received $580,000 through the program.</span>

<span>Projects funded over the last four years have helped school districts across the U.S. upgrade technology and scientific lab equipment, build greenhouses and outdoor classroom learning environments, update teacher and curriculum development and other math and science-related initiatives.</span>

<span>"It's more opportunities for our kids and more experiences," Haertling said. "Of course, (Agricultural Education teacher) Blake (Colclasure) left, but I'm confident our new Ag. instructor (Sarah McKinnies) will do a great job."</span>

<span>America's Farmers Grow Rural Education is part of the America's Farmers initiative. Since 2010, the America's Farmers campaign and programs have advocated on behalf of farmers and their efforts to meet society's needs through agriculture.</span>