STCU awards $20,000 in classroom grants

STCU, founded by high school teachers in 1934, is for the second time this year honoring its roots by awarding a total of $20,000 to 100 randomly drawn educators. Winners can spend their grants on anything that will enhance students’ classroom experience, whether a basic need or something special.

The online drawing was open to teachers, counselors, and other classroom-based positions at public and private districts in Washington, North Idaho and Eastern Oregon.

2026 marks the 13th year that STCU has offered the grants, with total gifts over that period exceeding $300,000 to nearly 2,000 educators.

Fall 2026 Idaho classroom supply grant winners:

Boundary County School District 101

Kari Dameron, Rachel Mertzweiller

Coeur d'Alene School District 271

Shanie Mantz, Katie Palmer, Sarah Irving, Jessamyn Watt-lair

Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy

Sandy Midgley

Elevate Academy North

Christine Simpson

Hayden Canyon Charter

Lynette Smith

Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC)

John Mackesy

Lake Pend Oreille School District

Jeralyn Mire. Jessica Newton. Danielle Packard

Lakeland School District

Lindsey Davis-Smith, Ann-Jeanette Tucker, Crystal Thomas, Haley Sogge

North Idaho STEM Charter Academy

Brett Hatrock

Plummer-Worley School District

Chester Lawrence

Post Falls School District 273

Susan Walker, Josh Hansen, Megan Spencer

Potlatch School District 285

Amy Wright

West Bonner County School District

Brenda Davis, Kelly Krystinak