The 15th Annual MARE Scholarship Golf Tournament was held at Osage National on Monday, July 21st. Although rain was not in the forecast, it came. But even the rain did not spoil our event as we had 35 teams with 136 golfers tee off at a little after 12:00 noon. This event has grown tremendously in participation and sponsorships over the past several years. We are greatly blessed with our amazing sponsors and their commitment to supporting scholarships for future Missouri teachers through their support for this event. We had several folks new to MARE join us this year and for that we are very thankful. Of special note is the volunteer work that Nikki Harding and Crista Grimwood provided as helpers at the registration table and official photography for the event (Most of the pictures attached in the galleries were provided by them!). Next year's 16th Annual MARE Scholarship Golf Tournament is tentatively slated for Monday, July 20th at Osage National. I hope that you will make plans now to join us then!
Corporate Sponsors - Veregy ($5,000.00), Step UP ($5,000.00), SIC Midwest ($4,000.00), UMB Bank ($4,000.00), McKinstry ($3,000.00), L.J. Hart & Company ($3,000.00), Quality Network Solutions ($2,000.00), MEUHP ($2,000.00), American Fidelity ($2,000.00), Forrest T. Jones ($2,000.00), S.M. Wilson & Company ($2,000.00), Reynolds Construction & Commercial Roofing ($1,000.00), MOCAAT ($1,000.00), Curriculum Associates ($1,000.00), Guin Mundorf, LLC ($1,000.00) Mickes O'Toole, LLC ($1,000.00), Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. ($1,000.00) Audio Enhancement ($1,000.00), SlateXP (LearnSafe) - ($1,000.00), 4M Building Solutions ($1,000.00), balanceHQ ($1,000.00), Daikin TMI ($1,000.00) and Smith Paper & Janitor Supply ($1,000.00)
Hole Sponsors/Prize Sponsors/Meal Sponsors - OnToCollege, MSU Center for Rural Education, Universal Construction, EdCounsel, LLC, Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc., Holland Construction Services, Inc., MRTA, Navitas, Mickes O'Toole, LLC, NREA, Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C., SIC Midwest, Hamlin Energy, Forrest T. Jones, KRJ Architecture, Midwest Bus Sales, Missouri Propane Gas, MUSIC, Gilmore & Bell, P.C., Opaa! Food Management, Gator Graphics, Twotrees Technologies, MET/Gallagher, Hoener Architects, Piper Sandler, Bukaty (Jeff Walstrom), Facility Solutions Group, Sonus Benefits, Acrisure, Integrated Facility Services, Missouri School Plant Managers, Schneider Electric, MASA, Coryell Roofing and The Inclusive Leadership Lab. Special "shout out" to Matt Temple from Sonus Benefits for all of the various prizes he provided. Also "shout outs" to all who provided additional prizes for giveaways (Step UP, SIC Midwest, L.J. Hart & Company, Forrest T. Jones, 4M Building Solutions, Universal Construction, Denovo Building Solutions, MSPMA, Osage National, Acrisure, Coryell Roofing and Curriculum Associates. Thanks to the many sponsors who had tents or tables on the course for various events, refreshments and giveaways as well. (Veregy, Step UP, 4M Building Solutions, Daikin TMI, Universal Construction, MSPMA)
Please take a look at the two attached photo galleries attached to this article. Special thanks to Nikki Harding, Crista Grimwood and Jerry Cochran for photos.
See you next year on July 20th at Osage National. Let's make the 16th MARE Scholarship Golf Tournament something to write home about!!!!!!!
MARE is pleased to welcome Missouri S&T - Kummer Center for STEM Education as our newest Associate Member. Please read below for more information on this center and what they have to offer your students and staff!
The Kummer Center for STEM Education is Missouri’s leading resource for innovation in PK-12 STEM education, focused on quality student experiences and teacher training that empower future STEM professionals. Through various partnerships with K-12 educators, school districts, Missouri S&T faculty, staff, students, and various industry partners, we provide high-quality STEM learning opportunities, teacher training, and workforce development. Our aim is to ensure that every student—regardless of background—has an opportunity to discover their potential in STEM.
Some of the resources we offer are listed below. Please explore our website to learn more about how we can support your teaching and learning goals.
On Friday, July 18th, following their regularly scheduled MARE Executive Board Meeting, MARE Board members, scholarship recipients, scholarship sponsors and a number of family and friends gathered for the 2025 MARE College Scholarship Awards Presentation Ceremony. The ceremony was held beginning at 1:00 p.m. downstairs in the MCSA Building in Jefferson City, Missouri. Those selected to receive awards by the organization this year include the following:
2025 MARE College Scholarship Recipients
Student Scholarship Title
Katie Gaines L. J. Hart & Company Scholarship
Michelle Hall Philip C. Dorth Scholarship
Emma Wheeler David M. Cooper Scholarship
Summer Hunolt Ray Doerhoff Scholarship
Madison Delmont Dr. Matt Bushey Scholarship
Rachel McCullah Kenneth W. Cook Scholarship
Kaiden Ketterman Tom Quinn Scholarship
Gavin Shoush Veregy Scholarship
Joshua Griffith SIC Midwest Scholarship
Olivia Lopez American Fidelity Assurance Scholarship
Jordyn Sigman Audio Enhancement Scholarship
Ashton Stuber Quality Network Solutions Scholarship
Melanie Hartman Mark Iglehart Scholarship
Stephanie Shuman S.M. Wilson & Company Scholarship
Cierra Parker Guin Mundorf, LLC Scholarship
Rachael Larsen Reynolds Construction Co. Scholarship
Somer Gill MOCAAT Scholarship
Emma Witzke Mickes O’Toole, LLC Scholarship
Adelynn Palmer Tueth Keeney, P.C. Scholarship
Christine Brown SlateXP Scholarship
Kolby Ghan STEP Up Scholarship
Grant Breece Howard Heidbrink Scholarship
Please click on the attached image to see a slideshow of the student photos receiving the awards.
MARE is pleased to welcome Inclusive Leadership Lab as a new Associate Member. Read on for more information on what this company can do for you.
I am Dr. Nikki Harding, a former district administrator, adjunct professor, school improvement specialist, statewide director of teacher recruitment and retention, and special education teacher. I am also the parent of 3 beautiful children, one of whom has Down Syndrome. I am also married to a school Superintendent. To say I am fully entrenched in supporting schools is an understatement. I am a teacher at heart, dedicated to improving social emotional, behavioral and academic outcomes for each student so they can realize their full postsecondary quality of life. I founded the Inclusive Leadership Lab and our sister company, ILL Academy (which houses our graduate courses and podcast), with that in my heart.
Supporting students begins with supporting school staff and leadership teams. I have an associate director and a team of people with whom we partner. We have developed a framework for teams that may look familiar to you, but we put a new spin on it. It is fully customizable for your needs. The most beautiful thing about our framework is that we are not adding to your plate.
We support the implementation of what you are already doing. We help your leadership team communicate their vision of instructional coherence and instructional support. We support teachers in implementing curriculum and high-quality instructional practices with fidelity. We provide instructional coaching enhanced by artificial intelligence. It saves time. It’s a safe place: HIPPA and FERPA compliant. We use a system that only uses your curriculum and your state standards – no weird random stuff from the internet.
It’s not “more.” It’s clarity: consistent communication and meaningful feedback loops. It’s developing a school where everyone feels a true sense of belonging; everyone has a voice. It’s inclusion in action.
Check out our website to learn more.
Make an appointment here to learn more.
MARE is thrilled to recognize the following students for their selection as 2025 MARE/EdCounsel HS Senior Scholarship Award Recipients. Each student will receive a $750.00 scholarship to a Missouri College or University this summer or fall. Special thanks to EdCounsel, LLC. for their partnership in this endeavor. Since this scholarship program began in 2017, we have awarded $151,750.00. Students must attend HS at a MARE member school district and have plans to enter the field of education to be eligible to apply. For more information about this program or membership in MARE, please contact Executive Director, Kevin Sandlin, at (660) 747-8050 or ksandlin@moare.com. Please see the attached photo galleries!
2025 MARE/EdCounsel HS Senior Scholarship Recipients
Student District
Clara Akers Bucklin R-II
Kalli Barnett Marceline R-V
Zoe Bentley Chaffee R-II
Afomiya Bess Marion C. Early R-V
Brock Boatwright Fair Grove R-X
Sadie Burtch Chillicothe R-II
Kenzi Cheek Hickory Co. R-I
Matthew Cook Lincoln R-II
Addison Cotton Southwest R-V
Ashley Daly West County R-IV
Breahnna Dennison Gideon #37
Luke Dierker St. Clair R-XIII
Kacie Edwards School of the Osage
Riley Essenpries Adrian R-III
Hailey Golian Ralls Co. R-II
Ryah Hardin Crane R-III
Elizabeth Havens Summersville R-II
Sienna Heckemeyer St. Elizabeth R-IV
Kylie Ingram Oran R-III
Lyndsey King Gallatin R-V
Cailyn Kite Reeds Spring Schools
Brylee Martin Polo R-VII
Emily McCammon Adrian R-III
Trevor Miller Clearwater R-I
Shalynn Norris Glasgow
Gavin Painter Brunswick R-II
Brody Pratt Hickory Co. R-I
Jalea Price Maryville R-II
Ava Rakers Montgomery Co. R-II
Kenzie Reynolds Chillicothe R-II
Kendall Rhorer Pilot Grove C-4
Garrison Richards Hale R-I
Ashlyn Russell Cole Camp R-I
Owen Schellman Blair Oaks R-II
Madilynn Schubert Mt. Vernon R-V
Natalie Shively Monroe City R-I
Evan Simmons Scott City R-I
Maleena Sims Brunswick R-II
Grace Smith Odessa R-VII
Lauren Tucker Clinton
Reese Wells Fair Grove R-X
Dalton Wheeler Osborn R-O
Reeve Woodall Van Far R-I
The Missouri Association of Rural Education will offer the initial 18.5 hours of Board Member training for newly elected or appointed individuals according to the following schedule. As stipulated by Missouri Statute 162.203 - Board members initially elected or appointed under section 162.291, 162.459, 162.471, or 162.581 after August 28, 1993, in addition to the qualifications prescribed in those sections, shall successfully complete orientation and training requirements within one year of the date of the election or appointment. The orientation and training shall consist of at least eighteen hours and thirty minutes with the cost of such training to be paid by the district. The registration form is attached here MARE Board Training Registration.
MARE Board Training Dates – 2025
Southeast Missouri - Poplar Bluff, MO – Holiday Inn – (573) 712-9021
Northeast Missouri - Kirksville, MO - Holiday Inn Express (660) 956-4682
Southwest Missouri - Bolivar, MO - Comfort Inn - (417) 326-6169
West Central Missouri - Warrensburg, MO – Quality Inn - (660) 747-3000
Northwest Missouri - Maryville, MO - Holiday Inn Express (660) 562-9949
Lake Ozark, MO – The Lodge of the Four Seasons (Conference)
Lake Ozark, MO - The Lodge of the Four Seasons
*** Please share this information with any new Board member who has not completed the 18.5 hours of required training! MARE is an approved Board Training provider!
To register, please complete the form found on our website and fax to (660) 747-8160, scan and email to ksandlin@moare.com, or go online (www.moare.com) and complete the electronic form found under Board Training.
DESE has created a resource for schools entitled "Teacher Recruitment & Retention Playbook". A copy is attached below at the link. Please check this out and share with others in the education community.
Make plans now to join us for our annual fall conference on October 22-24, 2025 at the beautiful Lodge of the Four Seasons. This event has grown tremendously over the past few years thanks to your support and your willingness to encourage others to attend. We hope to make our 2025 the biggest and best yet!
District leaders and vendors are encouraged to put this on your calendars now! We want the MARE/MO K-8 Conference to be your choice event for team building, leadership development and professional growth. We look forward to seeing all of you at the lake!
Linked below are various forms associated with the conference.
2025 MARE/MO K-8 Conference Registration
2025 MARE/MO K-8 Conference Exhibitor Registration Page 1
2025 MARE/MO K-8 Conference Exhibitor Registration Form 2
2025 MARE Outstanding Rural Education Awards Nomination Form
2025 MARE/MO K-8 Conference Call for Presentation Proposals
More information will be added to this article at a later date, including the Conference Planner at a Glance, Conference General Session Descriptions and Conference Small Group Session Descriptions
