August 18, 2026 - Three Mexico Public Schools teachers have been selected as recipients of classroom grants from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association (MRTA). The $500 competitive grants provide funding for innovative projects, which directly benefit students.

Katlin Constable, McMillan Early Learning Center, plans to use this grant to create a dedicated writing and art center in her Pre-K classroom.

Alexis Thoenen, Mexico Middle School, will establish a future forecast and weather station in her classroom.

Melissa Holman, Mexico Middle School, will expand ideas and creativity with a multicolored 3D printer. 

Our Mexico teachers were three of 98 recipients from around the state. Audrain County retired teachers Maureen Hacker, Jennifer Silver, and Susan Atkins presented the award today alongside Mary Ridge, representing MRTA. 

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.