Idaho State University alumnus Melissa Hunt wins $100,000 grant for Stoddard Elementary School

Idaho State University alumnus and Blackfoot elementary school teacher Melissa Hunt has won a $100,000 grant to help her transform Stoddard Elementary School into a state-of-the-art learning environment.

The first grade teacher was a finalist in the Farmers Insurance “Dream Big Challenge.” She was presented with a check at her school on Friday, Dec. 5.

Her proposal “Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow” will bring new technology, such as tablets and smart boards to Stoddard Elementary School.

At Stoddard Elementary, 70 percent of students fall below the poverty line. In her proposal video, Hunt said she believes the diverse population of students “deserve to have the same opportunities of all children to learn, play and have the opportunities of tomorrow.”

Hunt received her Master of Education degree from Idaho State University in 2005.