Keri Rhodes was flabbergasted when she walked into the Jonesburg Elementary School library and saw a group of people from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association in the afternoon of Aug. 27.

At first, the JBE special education teacher thought she was going to have a meeting. But she found out that she received a $500 check from the MRTA for a grant she applied for last spring.

“It’s really exciting because I can share so many skills with my students,” Rhodes said. “They can learn some new skills. They are able to use these skills not only here in school, but they’re going to be able to take the skills that I teach them. It’s basically learning how to become more independent. They’re going to learn cooking skills and how to prepare things and how to be independent. Our goal is to make our students become more independent. That’s what my classroom is all about.”

Based in Jefferson City, the MRTA is the largest retired educator association in the state. Rhodes was awarded the grant by MRTA treasurer Mary Ridge. She was one of several teachers in a five-county region that includes Montgomery, Audrain, Boone, Randolph and Callaway to get the grant.

“It’s very difficult to get grants,” Ridge said. “In a five-county region, we were able to get six this year. For her to have done that is amazing. Her application was well-written and well-organized.”

Rhodes received the first grant of her teaching career. Rhodes said the reason she applied for the grant was simple.

“I just let them know that there’s a need for our students,” she said. “They needed to learn how to be independent and use these skills to grow as people and be well-rounded individuals.”

Rhodes was excused from her class to go to the library for the awarding of the grant. She said she first thought she had a meeting with JBE Principal Jenny Krattli.

“Mrs. Krattli often needs me periodically,” Rhodes said. “So she just needed to whisper something in my ear and tell me something about something and give me a heads up. So I was definitely surprised. I was actually in her office slightly before that because I had a meeting coming up. We were talking about something. She just popped back into my room, so this is definitely a surprise.”

Rhodes is in her third year as special education teacher at JBE. She has been working at the Montgomery County R-II School District for six years. She worked as a paraprofessional before she became a special education teacher. She received a Master’s degree in special education at Missouri State University in December.

Rhodes said the best part of her job is seeing her students filled with joy every day at school.

“I love it, she said. “My kids are everything. They make me smile. They walk in, give me hugs and are always happy. They’re usually happy in my room, but it’s hard. They’re in my room to become better people. Helping is that’s what we’re there for.”