Five Ste. Genevieve County R-II teachers have been awarded $300 CHEER grants through MNEA-Retired, supporting classroom materials that enhance instruction and student learning.
The CHEER program — short for Caring Help for Education Endeavors by Retirees — supports active MNEA members in obtaining classroom resources. For each grant awarded, the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District matched the funding, bringing the total investment to $600 per classroom.
The 2026 CHEER grant recipients include:
Emily Geisner, first-grade teacher at Bloomsdale Elementary
Whitney Hilbert, special education teacher at Ste. Genevieve Elementary
John Mooney, band director at Ste. Genevieve High School
Stephanie Rayoum, Tier II teacher at Bloomsdale Elementary
Jennifer Thomas, special education teacher at Ste. Genevieve Elementary
Grant funds will be used to support a range of instructional needs across grade levels and content areas. Purchases include music education tools to strengthen ensemble timing and intonation, structured literacy resources to support phonics and early reading development, and social-emotional learning materials such as sensory tools, calming supports and age-appropriate resources focused on emotional regulation.
Together, the CHEER grants and district matching funds provide targeted classroom support while reinforcing SG R-II’s ongoing investment in effective, student-centered instruction.