Missoula Education Foundation highlights classroom grants, scholarships and student leadership

The Missoula Education Foundation outlined an expanding slate of programs to the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees, saying its mission is "to invest in MCPS students and teachers so that all can succeed," Executive Director Shannon Rinker told the board.

Rinker said the foundation grew its executive director role from a half-time position to 0.75 full-time this year and described a slate of initiatives framed as four "apples": the creative classroom grant program, scholarships, student awards and an educator-recognition program. She highlighted a middle-school grantee whose students learned to sew blankets that were sent to sled dogs that could not finish the Iditarod race, an example she said combined academic rigor with community connection.

The foundation provided several key figures: MEF has awarded more than $300,000 in teacher-submitted classroom grants since 2017; in the 2025–26 school year it reported 36 ongoing projects reaching more than 6,400 students, with 174 students with disabilities served directly by grant projects. Rinker encouraged teachers to apply for creative classroom grants by April 20 and said applications for two "Beyond" scholarships for students who overcame barriers close April 30.

Student board co-chair Leo Westonfelder and member Emily Frank described the student-led governance of the board, which has grown from three members to nine this year, and outlined primary projects including an Apple Seed initiative (school gardens/orchards), a billboard campaign sponsored by Stockman Bank and a student-led educator-of-the-year process. Westonfelder said the Apple Seed work sought grants from DNRC ($3,000 awarded last year), Town Pump (a $7,000 application) and the Tracy Foundation (a $50,000 application) to support school gardens and a playground at Hawthorne Elementary.

Rinker said the foundation remains largely volunteer-run, with the executive director the only paid staff member, and asked trustees to reach out about community connections that could strengthen programming. "We feel so fortunate to be able to support this district in such a unique way," she said.

The board did not take action on the foundation presentation; trustees asked clarifying questions about reach and funding and thanked the presenters. The foundation materials and application deadlines are available through MEF and district channels.