HELENA — This week’s One Class at a Time recipient is Jim Darcy Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jennifer Schaefer.
Schaefer is help build literacy and math skills for her young students in fun ways.
Members of First Interstate Bank were joined by KXLH to surprise her at Jim Darcy with a $250 check.
Schaefer is working on implementing literacy and math learning centers in her classroom.
The Money from the grant will go towards purchasing reading and math games like “I can Build Simple Words” and “Unlock it Number Match.”
Schaefer says the games a great for getting young kids engaged in their learning, and is thankful that the cost of the games won’t be coming out of her own pocket.
“I think we end up spending quite a bit out of our own pocket or we make a lot of it,” said Schaefer. “To be able to purchase premade things that will last that are made for 5-year-olds is pretty cool.”
Schaefer added teachers are lucky to have a program like One Class at a Time that has consistently helped educators address challenges in their schools.
For more than a decade, First Interstate Bank and MTN have partnered for the One Class at a Time grant.
The mission of the grant is to foster educational opportunities for local teachers and students.
A panel of retired teachers and school officials select the grant recipients from a pool of submitted applications.
For more information about One Class at a Time, including how to apply, visit here.
