2024 IRTAF Grant Winners

This Fall, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (IRTAF) will award $42,000 in grant money to several public school educators from across the state. This grant money will allow these educators to enrich their instruction with materials not otherwise available to them. Their students are the real winners! A special thank you to the Illinois Principals Association for their assistance with the promotion of this program. Below, you will find the name of each winner listed, along with his/her school, IRTA Area, and a video about each project in the winner’s own words.

Bob Beringer

Hampshire High School, Hampshire (2)

Mikaila House

Harvard Park Elementary, Springfield (4)

Carmen Foster

Annawan Grade School, Annawan (1)

Julia Brodrick

Apollo Elementary, Aledo (1)

Aaron Mendoza

Oregon Elementary School, Oregon (1)

Sarah Schlegel

Aplington Middle School, Polo (1)

James Conley

J Sterling Morton West High School, Berwyn (3)

Martha Montalvo and Mickey Tebelman

Meadow Ridge Elementary School, Orland Park (3)

Tayler Musselman

Kingsley Junior High School, Normal (4)

Denise Bach, Morris Grade School, Morris (1)

Andrea Churchill, Apollo Elementary School, Aledo (1)

Debbie DeHahn, Eswood Elementary School, Lindenwood (1)

Michelle Jozefowicz, Stillman Valley High School, Stillman Valley (1)

Kristen Reick, Apollo Elementary School, Aledo (1)

Kristi Robertson, Apollo Elementary School, Aledo (1)

Summer Traver, Henry-Senachwine Grade School, Henry (1)

Natalie Boye, Washington Elementary, Waukegan (2)

Diana Jimenez-Ramey, Whittier Elementary School, Waukegan (2)

Lisa McCauley, Viking Middle School, Gurnee (2)

Megan Swirsley, SEDOL Lasso 2 at Millburn Elementary, Wadsworth (2)

Patrick Arlis, Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center, Bourbonnais (3)

Kristine Brokos, Stone School, Addison (3)

Emerson Burghart, Pennoyer School, Norridge (3)

Sarah Doff, Graves Dual Language School, Summit (3)

Angelique Hoekstra, ECHO School, South Holland (3)

Alan Holtz, Brooks Middle School, Bolingbrook (3)

Marc Smith, Addison School District 4, Addison (3)

Eileen Ward, Maya Angelou Elementary, Harvey (3)

Stephanie Altgilbers, Unity High School, Mendon (4)

Shellie Brooks, Havana Junior High School, Havana (4)

Jennifer Burns, Carlock Elementary, Carlock (4)

Angela Edwards, Grove Elementary School, Normal (4)

Melinda Fry, United Junior High School, Monmouth (4)

Nicole Hull, United Intermediate School, Monmouth (4)

Ann Hulsizer, United Intermediate School, Monmouth (4)

Amanda Keith, United High School, Monmouth (4)

Chelsea Logsdon, United West Elementary, Monmouth (4)

Jason McCoy, Deer Creek-Mackinaw CUSD No. 701, Mackinaw (4)

Rachel Oehlert, United Junior High School, Monmouth (4)

Bethany Otte, Quincy Senior High School, Quincy (4)

Samantha Tabor, Hollis Grade School, Peoria (4)

Matt Blomquist, Taylorville High School, Taylorville (5)

Miranda Bratcher, Pana Elementary School, Pana (5)

Gregory Cothern, Pana High School, Pana (5)

Jennifer Cross, Lincoln Elementary, Pana (5)

Paulina Dabrowska, MacArthur High School, Decatur (5)

Beth Guhlstorf, Taylorville Jr High School, Taylorville (5)

Kelly Lamb, Bond Primary, Assumption (5)

Lori Magnussen, Pana High School, Pana (5)

Lacy May, Taylorville High School, Taylorville (5)

Kim Bridwell, Benton Consolidated High School, Benton (6)

Megan Broy, Thomspsonville CUSD #174-Grade School, Thompsonville (6)

Kristi Consolino, Selmaville Community Consolidated School District, Salem (6)

Lanonie Dorf, New Athens CUSD #60, New Athens (6)

Bonnie Forby, Southern Region Early Childhood Program-Murphysboro Pre-K, Murphysboro (6)

Kelli Hunter, Washington Elementary School, Marion (6)

Taylor Karcher, East Side Elementary School, McLeansboro (6)

Megan Lamczyk, Sesser-Valier CUSD #16, Sesser (6)

Emily Milligan, Ewing Northern Grade School, Ewing (6)

Amanda Wood, WCES/ Marion Unit 2, Marion (6)