A group of forward-thinking community leaders met 44 years ago for the purpose of establishing a program to support the Mexico schools, and the A+ For Education was created. Since 1991, all area teachers are encouraged at the beginning of the school year to submit grant requests to this unique grant program. Since then, over $782,000 has been awarded to support the Mexico schools.

This year the Mexico schools received a total of $31,201.77 from the A+ program.The funding is made possible through the generous contributions from local individuals, businesses, civic organizations, clubs, foundations and the United Way.

"Our district is so fortunate to have this partnership,” Superintendent Dr. Troy Lentz, said in a news release. “I would like to thank everyone who donates to A+ For Education and to all of those who help guide the process,"

Local teachers are encouraged to participate in this mini-grant program that provides up to $3,000 for approved grants. The applicants' names and schools are removed before being read by three anonymous judges.

Of the 47 grant applications which were received this year, 36 grants were approved for full or partial funding. Literacy aids were in high demand this year with requests for decodable books, audio centers, age-appropriate books, takehome books and other reading supplements. Sensory and hands-on items were also popular items.

Listed below are the recommended grants for the 2025-26 school year:

Eugene Field

Mary Billington, first grade team - $1199.97
Science of Reading Decodable Books and Small Group Materials
Students will be provided with decodable readers that will be used in independent reading time.

Buffey Mulligan, special education - $526.22
Enhancing Literacy and Accessibility Through a Listening Station will provide students with access to audiobooks, recorded lessons, and other auditory learning tools. This technology will support diverse learners, particularly those with reading difficulties, visual impairments, or attention challenges.

Sidney Atkinson, first grade - $374.99
Where Young Minds Meet
A classroom rug provides a welcoming learning environment where every student feels valued and has a place to belong and feels comfortable. This type of arrangement has been shown to assist with learning and classroom management.

Kaylee Hutcheson and Haley Schafer, first and second grade - $2511.68
Engaged and Independent Tools for Small Group Success
Students will be provided with hands-on literacy tools such as interactive magnetic arcs, game trays and writing centers to help develop their early phonics, writing and reading readiness skills

Ethan Wiley, STEM classroom - $788.99
The Maker’s Toolbox: Building With 3D Printing
Students using the provided 3D printer and essential tools will begin to explore engineering and design through hand-on learning. The learning will be integrated into the Project Lead the Way STEM curriculum where students will have the opportunity to design digital models and bring them to life as physical prototypes.

Alexis Williams and Sidney Atkinson, first grade - $1000
Audio Learning Centers will expand the library of individual read-along books and incorporate reading centers into the classrooms which will give first grade students more choices and opportunities to engage with texts at their level.

Heather Workes, SPED - $180.82
Quiet Spaces, Bright Minds addresses individual sensory needs that will help improve students’ academic performance, behavior, and overall well-being. The tools are essential for creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment by reducing sensory overload.

Shana Wiley, fifth grade - $1357.39
Comfort Creates Confidence: Flexible Seating for Growing Learners will allow students to select seating that meets their individual needs—such as standing desks, wobble stools, or floor seating—which helps them to be more focused, less restless, and better able to collaborate with peers.

Hawthorne Elementary

Classroom Decodable Book Sets are created and designed to help beginning readers develop and
practice their phonics skills:

Emily Dodd, first grade - $477
Classroom Decodable Book Set -A

Jessica Brown, first grade - $477
Classroom Decodable Book Set -B

Sammie Hobbs, first grade - $477
Classroom Decodable Book Sets -C

Reghan Smith, first grade - $477
Classroom Decodable Book Sets -D

Gyda Hooker, fourth grade - $780
Math Exploragons are math manipulatives used to teach students about shapes and angles and provide hands-on opportunities to understand geometry.

Julie Stevenson, ELL class - $294.15
Making Nonfiction Come Alive for English Learners
These engaging decodable nonfiction book sets give ELLS students access to learning about different science and social studies topics at a reading level they can access.

Brandon Eick, fifth grade - $239.85
Spanish Language Books in the Classroom addresses the lack of Spanish texts which creates barriers to engagement, comprehension, and participation, particularly during the class-wide reading of Tuck Everlasting. The project aims to purchase several Spanish copies of the novel along with a variety of high-interest titles in order to promote literacy development.

Cali Crite, Megan Schutte, McKenzie Reid, Sarah Mahnken and Miriam Hyde, second grade - $2146.29
Interdisciplinary Learning Resources Science and Social Studies Weekly provides engaging, standards-based lessons that connect reading, science and social studies.

McMillan Early Learning Center

Margaret Frazier, art and Pre-K - $ 400
Chompsaw
A Kid-Safe Power Tool for Cutting Cardboard Inventions uses recyclable materials which help students learn to cut simple shapes while promoting hand eye coordination, creativity and collaboration with other students.

Maggie Resa, Pre-K - $599.97
Clutter-Free Cubbies will provide each student with their own designated space to put their belongings in each day and help them understand the importance of staying organized.

London Davolt, Pre-K - $281
Dramatic Play-A items will be used in stations to help students learn by working on reading, math, and social skills by counting items and acting out real life situations.

Lindsey Nilges, kindergarten - $477.15
Dramatic Play-B is a Science of Reading framework that will enhance student engagement and support early literacy. The materials include everyday items used in themed play.

Maggie Resa, Pre-K - $165
Ready, Set, Imagine! Developing Creative Preschoolers
This program encourages students through imaginative play to learn a variety of skills such as problem-solving, literacy, language, and it enhances their creativity.

London Davolt, Pre-K - $357
Social Emotional Learning will benefit students by learning social skills, learning how to deal with different emotions, and how to calm down when upset.

Maggie Resa, Pre-K - $229.58
ABC’s and 123’s: Learning Through Play is a powerful tool for preschoolers to learn through hands-on activities like building, sorting, and pretend play. These activities allow students to naturally develop early math skills such as counting, number sense, pattern recognition, and problem-solving.

Kristin Jenkins, kindergarten - $200
Sensory Builds Curiosity in Kindergarten
A sensory table offers hands-on experiences that help students to strengthen fine motor skills, expand vocabulary, practice problem solving and help build early math concepts.

Nicole Mann, kindergarten - $400
Classroom Library Update will provide additional classroom books which will encourage students' reading skills and nourish their desire to read.

Peggy Klick, Title 1 - $640
Families Reading Together will provide families with book bags filled with age-appropriate books, including preschool titles and Spanish-language literature. By offering books, families can enjoy reading together and the experience will strengthen the home-school connection, support English language learners, and nurture a lifelong love of reading.

Hawthorne, Eugene Field and McMillan Elementary

Allison Mattox, elementary social worker - $576.98
Building Student Strengths Through Engaging Materials
Through group activities, students will practice coping skills, develop emotional regulation strategies, and strengthen their peer relationships.

Mexico Middle School

Makenzie Mudd, eighth grade ELA - $285.14
Hands-On Reading: Building Literacy Through Games and Manipulatives
Age-appropriate materials are used to strengthen phonics, decoding, vocabulary and comprehension skills by incorporating handson-tools to increase student motivation and the mastery of essential foundational reading skills.

Melissa Holman, computer - $522
Layers of Learning will provide students will 3D printing filament and 3D printing pens so that the 3D printers used in class can add additional hands-on ways to design and create.

Stacey Ellison, seventh grade ELA, reading - $1,292
Fanning the Fire: Building Passionate Readers will provide students with a wide variety of high-interest varied reading level books across genres and writing styles to encourage independent reading and build lifelong literacy skills.

Leslie Nichols sixth grade social studies $247.65
We’re All in This Together helps struggling students to communicate effectively with one another face-to-face through cooperative learning strategies by finding fun and engaging ways for students to practice essential communication skills.

Crystal Jimenez, ELL class - $899.95
Let’s Talk About It uses translation devices which will assist the teachers and students to communicate daily for learning, as well as being available at parent-teacher conferences, interactions between the nurse and students, parents, and principal.

Julie Duncan, seventh grade ELA - $947.88
Turning Pages, Sparkling Minds is a collection of high interest books with stories that reflect students’ lives, move quickly, capture their imaginations and which will motivate their desire to read.

St. Brendan School

Selena Ramsey. first grade - $1983.78
Learning Through Literacy uses handgrips and wrist bands to encourage students in developing fine motor skills to make their handwriting legible. Items will also be used to set up literacy centers to encourage students to tell, write and develop stories.

Cora Ransom, PE class - $815
Swinging Good Time will allow students to participate in tee ball and pickleball which will help
students develop hand eye coordination, balance, and agility as they learn ways to deal with conflict resolution while engaging in physical fitness.

Cheyenne Yeager, preschool - $2588.99
Gross Motor Growth will allow preschool children to build strength in their muscles and to have a better understanding of balance and coordination.

Selena Ramsey first grade $965.35
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work provides students with materials that will encourage
communication, rule following, and working together for a common goal. The teachers will utilize the Conscious Discipline and Second Step materials to help with social behaviors necessary for students to learn how to deal with conflict resolution.

Mary Ann Kasubke, music department - $3000

Sound of Music provides instruments for students to be introduced to how putting sounds together can build harmony while learning basic musical theory and concepts. It will enable students to develop a musical understanding through experiences with pitch percussion instruments.