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Bulletin Board: Retirees Spread Cheer to Teachers and Students

A field trip to the Saint Louis Zoo is just one of the ways donations from Missouri retirees are helping active educators and students.
Published: October 6, 2023
Jo Wanda Bozeman presents music teacher Joel Fischer with funds for a wall organizer for his instruments.
Jo Wanda Bozeman presents music teacher Joel Fischer with funds for a wall organizer for his instruments. Credit: Courtesy MNEA-Retired

A trip to the Saint Louis Zoo, science field trips, and take-home books for students are just a few of the ways students have benefited from a Missouri NEA (MNEA)-Retired grants program, called Caring Help for Education Endeavors by Retirees (CHEER).

The CHEER Fund got its start back in 2013, when MNEA-Retired received a surprise donation. They decided to use the windfall to award $250 grants to MNEA teachers in support of their classroom work. 

Today, thanks to the generosity of MNEA-Retired members, the grants have increased to $400 each. 

“Since the inception of the CHEER Fund, we have approved 90 grants and awarded $24,407.34,” says the program’s chair, Janet Leachman.

Over the years, CHEER grants have provided school supplies for a first-year kindergarten teacher; replaced teaching materials lost in a fire; and helped create a classroom calming corner for students, among many other supports. 

Former CHEER Fund board member Jo Wanda Bozeman continues to help teachers apply for grants. Recently, she supported a middle school music teacher in obtaining funds to build a wall organizer for percussion instruments.

“It’s one of the ways that I can give back,” Bozeman says. “No one turns down money, especially teachers, when they can get things to help enhance teaching and learning.”  

—JELINDA MONTES

Announcing the 2024 NEA-Retired Communications Awards!

Every year, the NEA-Retired Executive Council Communications Committee recognizes NEA-Retired affiliates for outstanding communications work in the following categories:

  • Established State Retired Newsletter (Published more than three years)
  • State Retired Newsletter (Published fewer than three years)
  • Established Local Retired Newsletter 
  • E-Newsletter
  • State Retired Website
  • NEA-Retired Spotlight Award (State active newsletter/magazine covering NEA-Retired issues)
  • Newsletter Hall of Fame

To apply, visit nea.org/RAM and scroll down to Communications Awards. Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2024.


NEA-Retired Membership Awards

The winners of this year’s NEA-Retired Membership Awards were announced at the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting, in June. The Retired state groups with the largest membership gains were the Pennsylvania State Education Association-Retired (1,181 new members) and Education Minnesota Retired (8.7 percent increase). This year’s runners-up were the California Teachers Association/NEA-Retired (1,047 new members) and Kentucky Education Association-Retired (5.4 percent increase).

The “Spirit of Membership Award,” now in its second year, honors a state affiliate that developed an innovative program while building membership. This year’s winner, the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association, in New Jersey, established a grants program to help teachers provide for their students needs.   

Sam Evelyn Morgan Rock

Learn more about NEA-Retired

Now more than ever the commitment continues. Learn how NEA-Retired works to meet the needs of retired education employees (like Sam Evelyn Rock from the Chattanooga Hamilton County Retired Teachers Assn in Tennessee at right) and how to join.
National Education Association

Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.