Pictured L to R: Connie Lueke, HCHS Principal; Lynette Staley, Grant Recipient; Tammy Rose, Grant Winner; Brooke Serbousek, IRTA Membership & Community Outreach Coordinator
(Photo courtesy of IRTA)
Tammy Rose and Lynette Staley, Hamilton County High School teachers, have been awarded Excellence in Education Grants from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation. The IRTAF awarded $42,000 in Excellence in Education Grants to educators throughout the State of Illinois. There were 324 applications received; only 71 grants were awarded. The grant money will allow these educators to purchase instructional materials for classroom projects to enrich the learning experiences for their students. “Our goal is to provide Illinois’ teachers with additional resources to inspire and empower their students,” said Jessica Hoselton, IRTA Executive Director.
This is the third year Lynette has been honored with a grant. She was also awarded grants in 2023 and 2025. In the past, several Hamilton County educators have received grants: Jessica Flannigan and Lynette Staley in 2025; Taylor Karcher in 2024; Lynette Staley in 2023; Erica Harris in 2022; Amy Hamson in 2021; Chrissy Cockrum and Ellie Winthrop in 2020; and Brande Williams in 2014.