Jamestown_1Jamestown (CSi)– Jamestown School District and Medina Public School each received grants from America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Funds from the grants will be used to upgrade technology in both school districts, with the goal of enhancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. 

With $25,000 in grant funds, second and fourth grade teachers at Jamestown School District will partake in four days of professional development training at the Great Plains STEM Education Center. Focusing on the best methodologies for teaching STEM, Jamestown staff will learn to integrate technology into the classroom. The training will help teachers determine the appropriate equipment to purchase for each grade level. Students will use the new equipment to investigate, analyze and report results from hands-on experiments throughout the year. 

“This training will provide our teachers with the skills to impact students for many years to come,” said Joe Hegland, director of curriculum and professional development. “Second and fourth grade students in our district now have opportunities to participate in hands-on experiences that they would not have without this grant.”

For Medina Public School, a $10,000 Grow Rural Education grant means using technology to help raise student achievement scores in math and science. After providing each fourth through sixth grade student with an iPad, the district will offer the newest technology inside and outside of the classroom. With the goal of increasing student engagement, teachers will integrate the iPads into the daily curriculum.

“The next generation is quite advanced when it comes to using the newest technologies,” said Brian Christopherson, superintendent. “With this grant, we can prepare our students for opportunities in STEM-related careers upon graduation.”

This past spring, local farmers nominated the district for a chance to apply for the grant. School administrators then designed a math and science-based project for the grant application. Once all of the school district applications were submitted, a panel of math and science teachers reviewed each application and selected finalists.  An advisory council, composed of farmer-leaders with an interest in agriculture and education, then selected the winning grant applications from a pool of finalists.

“Agriculture has become one of the most technologically advanced industries, so farmers are very aware of the need for superior math and science education, particularly in their own communities,” said Monsanto Customer Advocacy Lead Linda Arnold. “We are proud to partner with farmers to support the things that are most important to them—schools, youth, and their community.”

Jamestown School District celebrated receiving the grant on November 4, before the home volleyball match. Medina Public School celebrated receiving the grant on November 5, during a school assembly. Nominating farmers, school representatives and local Monsanto representatives Jacob Prather, Tony Baumgartner, and Jonathan Langan attended the events.

Grow Rural Education encourages farmers to nominate a local public school district, which can then compete for a grant of up to $25,000. Since 2011, Grow Rural Education has invested more than $7 million to support math and science education in rural school districts across the country.

This program is part of the America’s Farmers initiative, which partners with farmers to support education, service organizations and youth in rural America. Visit GrowRuralEducation.com to see the full list of winners for this year. A sister program, America’s Farmers Grow Communities is currently in its enrollment period. To sign up, visit GrowCommunities.com.