August 28, 2025. – Three Mexico Public Schools teachers have been selected as recipients of classroom grants from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association (MRTA). The competitive grants provide funding for innovative projects that directly benefit students.

Sarah Murdock, band director at Mexico Middle School, received a grant to purchase a one-year teacher subscription to the Ningenius music theory program. The interactive, game-based platform helps students in grades 6–8 learn and review music fundamentals such as note names, rhythm, instrument fingerings, and general music theory. Because the program is accessible both at school and at home, students can extend their learning beyond class while making music theory fun and engaging.

Sam Porter, a counselor at Eugene Field Elementary, earned funding for her project, Integrating Technology and Games to Improve Student Service Outcomes. The grant supports the purchase of an iPad with specialized apps and a variety of social-emotional learning (SEL) games and workbooks. These tools are designed to help students develop emotional regulation, social skills, and executive functioning in a supportive and interactive way.

Kaylee Hutcheson, teacher at Eugene Field Elementary, was awarded a grant for Guided Phonics + Beyond Decodable Books. Her project will provide phonics-based lessons for small-group instruction, along with decodable readers that follow a spiraled scope and sequence. These resources will help students practice phonics skills in meaningful ways while building confidence as readers.

Retired teachers Diana Henage, Mary Ridge, and Joan Fecht presented the checks on site at Mexico Public Schools last week.

“MRTA is committed to advocating for strong retirement benefits and high-quality public education in Missouri,” the award letter stated. “Through our grants and outreach, we aim to support both those currently serving in our schools and those who have retired from the profession.”

The MRTA Foundation, the charitable division of MRTA, awards classroom grants to educators across the state each year. MRTA represents more than 113,000 public school retirees and has over 30,000 active members.