James Walker Elementary Teacher Receives Grant from WGU Missouri

Vanessa Hogan, a special education teacher at James Walker Elementary in the Blue Springs R-IV School District, has received a $200 grant from online, nonprofit university WGU Missouri. The funds will be used to purchase sensory tubs, which are beneficial in calming students.

Students are coming to school with more sensory and emotional needs than ever before, and Hogan believes that she can help meet those needs by incorporating more stimulating items in the classroom. The tubs purchased will house sensory pieces, such as marbles, cotton balls, sand and beads. With the grant, Hogan will also purchase weighted blankets, a tent with a tunnel, pillows and various little hand objects for fidgeting. The elementary students will be able to utilize these tools to reset their minds for better days.

James Walker Elementary is one of 15 schools across Missouri chosen by WGU Missouri to receive funding for innovative classroom projects. The university issued a call this spring for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding through its inaugural “Fund My Classroom” initiative. Hogan’s proposal was one of more than 200 nominations received statewide. All grants were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.

“We received many innovative and unique ideas from teachers specifying how they plan to improve their classrooms, and we’re so pleased we can help bring several of them to fruition,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “This inaugural initiative is an opportunity for WGU Missouri to celebrate teachers and thank them for the lasting, positive impact they have on their students.”

To learn more about the Fund My Classroom initiative and the work WGU Missouri is doing to help teachers advance their careers, visit missouri.wgu.edu.