Monett Schools is grateful for the continued generosity and support that makes opportunities like these possible for our students and staff. Through the Fall 2026 Classroom Grant Program, six $500 grants were awarded to instructional staff across Monett Schools and the Scott Regional Technology Center to help bring innovative ideas, hands-on learning experiences, and additional classroom resources to students.

The purpose of the grant program is to enhance teaching and learning in Monett classrooms while supporting projects that align with the mission and vision of Monett Schools and individual buildings. From early literacy and accessibility supports to STEM learning, government education, and career-focused technology experiences, each project reflects the creativity and dedication of educators working to create engaging learning opportunities for students.

These grants would not be possible without the generosity of Brad Hill, State Farm, who continues to be a constant supporter of Monett Schools and our students. Their investment in education helps provide teachers with resources that expand opportunities, encourage innovation, and strengthen classroom experiences across the district.

Monett Schools sincerely appreciates this continued partnership and commitment to helping students grow, learn, and succeed.

This grant will help bring a designated writing center to the Mrs. Coupland’s preschool classroom, creating a space where students can explore writing in engaging and age-appropriate ways. While students currently have access to an art center, the new writing center will provide intentional opportunities to practice early writing and fine motor skills that support kindergarten readiness and future literacy development.

The writing center will include materials that encourage students to build foundational writing skills through drawing, storytelling, letter exploration, and other forms of early written expression. These activities help children strengthen fine motor development while also giving them opportunities to communicate their thoughts and ideas with classmates and teachers.

The idea for this project grew through the teacher’s participation in the LETRS program through the Southwest Center in Webb City, which highlighted the importance of early writing experiences for young learners. By creating a dedicated writing space, students will have the freedom to explore language, creativity, and self-expression in ways that support both academic growth and confidence in the classroom.

As Monett Schools prepares to welcome a growing number of students who use wheelchairs in the Fall of 2026, this grant will help ensure classrooms are ready to support their needs from the very first day of school. While Monett has always been committed to meeting students where they are, this project will help expand the adaptive materials and supports available for students with mobility needs. These resources will help students fully participate in classroom learning and daily activities.

Grant funds will be used to purchase adaptive classroom materials such as adaptive writing tools, switch toys, and other accessibility supports designed to make learning environments more comfortable and accessible for students who use wheelchairs. These tools help remove physical barriers that can make everyday classroom tasks more challenging and allow students to focus on learning, participation, and building independence.

"Monett has always had a legacy of welcoming all students, meeting them where they are, and

doing everything we can to provide the best education possible. As a teacher in this district, that is something I value deeply. I want my classroom to reflect that same legacy by making sure every student has what they need to feel included, capable, and successful in their learning Environment,” said Mrs. Cornell. 

Another important part of this project is that the adaptive materials will continue benefiting students beyond a single classroom. As students move through different buildings and grade levels, many of these resources can move with them, helping build long-term supports throughout the district for future students who may need similar accommodations.

This grant helps strengthen Monett’s ongoing commitment to meeting students where they are by providing adaptive materials that increase comfort, independence, and participation for all learners, while continuing the district’s tradition of helping every child reach their full potential.

The Cub Grant will bring a 3D printer to the district’s gifted program, creating new hands-on learning opportunities for students in grades K–12. The addition of this technology will allow students to turn ideas into tangible creations while building skills in STEM, design, creativity, and problem-solving.

The 3D printer will be used across all grade levels through age-appropriate learning experiences. Elementary students will explore basic design concepts and create simple models connected to classroom learning. Middle school students will participate in project-based learning activities, including engineering challenges and collaborative problem-solving tasks. At the high school level, students will use advanced design software to develop prototypes, inventions, and subject-specific models tied to real-world applications.

Throughout the process, students will engage in the full design cycle by planning, creating, testing, and refining their ideas. These experiences encourage students to think critically, explore creatively, and apply academic concepts in hands-on ways that deepen understanding and increase engagement.

This project also reflects the importance of providing gifted learners with opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction. The addition of a 3D printer will help support differentiated learning experiences while giving students access to innovative tools that encourage exploration, independent thinking, and creativity. By expanding access to this type of technology, Monett Schools continues creating learning experiences that prepare students for future academic opportunities and careers in STEM-related fields.

The Bridge to Success project is designed to provide additional layers of support for students who may feel disconnected from the traditional academic setting. Built around the belief that academic success is closely connected to social-emotional well-being, this initiative focuses on helping students develop the skills needed to manage emotions, navigate conflict, and overcome barriers that can impact learning.

This grant would help transform the Academic Support classroom into a more holistic learning environment that combines credit recovery with social-emotional learning supports. The current Academic Support program serves approximately 40 at-risk students who benefit from nontraditional pathways toward graduation, while the after-school enrichment program currently supports an average of 15 additional students each week.

Funding from this grant would provide essential resources that support both academic growth and emotional well-being. Planned materials include flexible seating, weighted lap pads, noise-canceling headphones, calming tools, digital learning subscriptions, graphing calculators, specialized workbooks, healthy snacks, art supplies, and restorative circle materials. These resources are designed to create safe, structured learning spaces where students can refocus, build confidence, and receive consistent support from peers and teachers.

The project is intended to support students facing a variety of challenges, including credit deficiencies, behavioral or emotional needs, and students who simply need additional academic support. By strengthening both the Academic Support classroom and after-school enrichment opportunities, the program aims to create an environment where students feel supported, connected, and capable of success.

At its core, the Bridge to Success initiative reflects a commitment to meeting students where they are and helping them build resilience for the future. The goal extends beyond helping students earn credits. It is about equipping students with the tools, support systems, and confidence needed to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Helping students understand how government works becomes even more engaging when learning moves beyond a textbook and into real-world experiences. This project is designed to strengthen student understanding of government through interactive learning opportunities, hands-on activities, and structured classroom resources that make civic concepts more engaging and accessible for students at the high school. The initiative will impact approximately 150 students enrolled in Government courses while helping students build a deeper understanding of leadership, citizenship, and civic responsibility.

One major component of the project is the continued use of Missouri State Constitution workbooks. During the current school year, students were provided access to a classroom set at no cost, and the results showed strong academic growth. Students demonstrated improved understanding of key concepts, higher assessment scores, and an increase in the number of students successfully passing the state graduation requirement on their first attempt. Based on this success, maintaining access to these workbooks will help continue building on that progress.

The project also includes an interactive Federalism “Layer Cake” activity that brings government concepts to life through hands-on learning. Students use a layered cake and marbled cheesecake to visually represent different models of federalism and explore how power is divided among federal, state, and local governments. Through guided discussion, labeling, and color-coding activities, students are able to better understand concepts that are often difficult to visualize in a traditional classroom setting.

Another important part of the project is a planned field experience to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. This opportunity will allow students to connect classroom instruction to real-world leadership, decision-making, and civic responsibility while gaining a deeper understanding of the presidency and American government.

Any remaining grant funds will support an end-of-course cookout to encourage accountability, effort, and student achievement while celebrating the hard work students put into the course throughout the year.

The Network in a Box project will provide Computer Maintenance and Networking students at the Scott Regional Technology Center with hands-on experience using enterprise-grade networking equipment commonly found in real-world technology environments. While students currently use digital simulations as part of their coursework, this project will allow them to work directly with physical hardware and gain practical experience building and managing functioning networks.

Grant funds will be used to create individual lab kits that include managed switches and multi-purpose routers. Using these kits, students will build miniature networks while learning critical networking concepts taught through the Cisco Network Academy curriculum. Students will gain experience with skills such as cabling networks, identifying ports, configuring VLANs, understanding routing protocols, and exploring network security and traffic management.

The project is designed to help students move beyond theory and develop confidence through hands-on learning. By physically connecting, resetting, and configuring networking equipment, students are able to better understand how systems function in real technology environments. The teacher also plans to incorporate “break-fix” challenges where students troubleshoot and restore networks after simulated issues are introduced, helping strengthen problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

These initial kits will serve as the foundation for a larger classroom goal of eventually providing dedicated hardware access for every student in the program. Until then, students will work collaboratively in small groups and partner teams during the Fall 2026 network infrastructure unit.

This project reflects SRTC’s commitment to providing career-focused learning experiences that prepare students with practical skills they can carry into future education opportunities and technology careers.