Division 33 of the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) has announced the four recipients of its December “no strings attached” $100 Teacher Grants, selected at random from a pool of 118 applicants representing Hemet, San Jacinto, Menifee, Romoland, and Nuview School Districts. The program is known for its direct support for educators who routinely invest their own resources to enrich student learning.
Among December’s recipients is third‑grade teacher Barbie Sanchez of Callie Kirkpatrick Elementary School in Menifee. Upon hearing the news, Sanchez expressed heartfelt appreciation, saying she was honored to receive the grant. She plans to use the funds to purchase Expo dry erase markers and art supplies, materials she believes will help “brighten our creative minds” and enhance daily classroom activities.
Second‑grade teacher Melanie Carver, who teaches at Chester W. Morrison Elementary School in Menifee, was equally delighted by the unexpected award. Calling it a “wonderful surprise,” Carver shared that she intends to use the grant to “expand my classroom library with new books,” resources she hopes will inspire her young readers and strengthen their love of learning.
At the San Jacinto Technology Institute, Christa Slater, who works with kindergarten and first‑grade students in the school’s K/1 lab, plans to use her grant to support hands‑on learning and motor‑skill development. Slater has already purchased “Drop Sticks” reflex challenge games to build hand‑eye coordination, rocket launchers for STEM lessons, and bean bag toss games” for both indoor and outdoor use. She also selected Scholastic books to bolster her classroom library.
Rounding out last month’s honorees is Scott Stolte, who teaches sixth‑grade math, sixth‑ and seventh‑grade science, and CTE at Hemet Dual Language Academy. Stolte outlined three practical and engaging uses for the funds: “I have needed a new rolling cart for a year now, I will put some of the money towards getting an air purifier for my room, and … we are going to do a Jello model, using the Jello in a cup as the cell and various candies to represent the different parts of a cell.”
Through these grants, CalRTA Division 33 continues its commitment to supporting public school educators and strengthening classroom experiences across the region. Division 33 also offers sixteen $1000 scholarships to qualifying seniors each year. For more information about CalRTA, check out their website at calrta.org, or Division 33’s website at div33.calrta.org.
