Beginning ag teachers awarded grants

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Four beginning Illinois agriculture education teachers were recently recognized by the IAA Foundation with Illinois Agricultural Education Teacher Grants for their efforts during their first year in the field.

Dodie Cripe, of Bond County Community Unit #2, Greenville; Gwen Heimerdinger, of Streator Township High School; Rachel Probst, Mattoon High School; and Elaine Rudolphi, Waterloo High School, were presented the grant during a surprise announcement at each school.

“Recognizing ag teachers highlights the outstanding efforts they put into their students and classrooms,” said Jennifer Smith, IAA Foundation development manager. “It’s just one way to reinforce that we support ag educators.”

Illinois Farm Bureau, through its charitable arm, the IAA Foundation, created the grant program to support new ag teachers who complete their first year of teaching.

Grant recipients were selected for their classroom efforts, strong short- and long-term personal and agriculture program goals. The program will fund 32 teachers over a 12-year time frame.

Illinois agricultural education teachers completing their first year in the classroom are eligible to apply for this grant.

The amount of the grant payment will increase over the course of the teacher’s first five years in the classroom, up to $10,000 total in personal income, if they remain active as an agricultural education teacher in the state of Illinois.