Jan. 21, 2026
Grants support projects connecting students to their communities
Educators at three rural school districts in southern Missouri have received classroom grants from Rural Schools Collaborative and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Originating from RSC’s Grants in Place program, the grants support place-based education projects that connect students with their local community.
Nathan Hensley, an agriculture education teacher at Crane High School, received a $2,500 grant through RSC’s Grants in Place program. His classroom project will address food insecurity by empowering students to learn more about the food system and produce healthy foods to share with community members in need.
Mike Blinzler, a business education teacher at Pierce City High School, received a $2,500 grant from the CFO’s Rural Schools Partnership Fund. His classroom project will align student interests, skills and goals with the evolving needs of local industries, community partners and the school.
Dr. Janeisha Gooden, principal of Mathis Elementary School in Hayti, received $1,000 from the CFO President’s Fund. Her project will empower Student Council members to identify community needs, design service projects and partner with local leaders to create lasting change in Hayti.
“These grant-funded projects illustrate why great teachers, engaged students and strong school districts are so important to the health of rural communities,” said Winter Kinne, president and CEO of the CFO. “We are proud to collaborate with Rural Schools Collaborative to make these grants and look forward to seeing the positive impact that these projects have on both the students and their communities.”
The CFO launched the Rural Schools Partnership in 2009. Its programs include the Ozarks Teacher Corps, place-based education grants in collaboration with the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation and Commerce Trust, and development for rural school foundations. In collaboration with Missouri State University and University of Central Missouri, the CFO serves as RSC’s regional hub for Missouri.
“Rural Schools Collaborative would not exist without the Community Foundation of the Ozarks,” said Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, executive director of Rural Schools Collaborative. “The CFO’s Rural Schools Partnership and rural classroom grantmaking regionally inspired and ultimately catalyzed the work happening today at a national level.”
RSC was founded by Gary Funk, who formerly led the CFO, and other rural school advocates in 2015 and is an agency partner of the CFO. Brian Fogle, past president and CEO of the CFO and current executive in residence at Drury University, currently chairs RSC’s board of directors. For more information, visit ruralschoolscollaborative.org.
