Christine Rusco, the kindergarten teacher at Prairie Home, won $500 in grant money from the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation.
The foundation gives awards to help their classrooms, in case budget cuts reduce funding.
Rusco said that she was unaware of the fact that she had won, until the day they came and gave her the check in front of the school during an assembly.
"It was really neat," Rusco said. "All the kids K through five came in through the gym and the ladies from the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation got up there and talked about how they gave out grants. And then they asked if Christine Rusco was in the room. So, I went up there and they handed me the balloon and the big paper check, and the real check."
Rusco, 34, has been teaching for nine years and this is her third year at Prairie Home.
She plans on buying building materials for her students to make ramps and roller coasters and other objects that require a large amount of critical thinking.
Rusco said she feels like the grant and the resources she can get with the money can really expand what she can teach her students in the future.
"I'm super excited. All of the materials have been ordered and I can't wait for it to come in. It is going to be like Christmas," Rusco said. "I can't wait to see my students' faces when I get to show them all the cool things and watch them build and create and get really excited about their creations."
Rusco said she feels that the grants given out are a good thing, as they can help the children.
"I think it is a great thing to be able to put resources into schools, so the kids can get the best education and have the best opportunities they can," she said.
"It is because of grants like (Classroom Grant Program) that we are able to some really neat things."