The Clifford A. and Mary E. Gunter Memorial
Teacher's Grant Award
Teacher's Grant Award
Individual Grant Amount: $250.00
Number of Recipients: 4
2026/2027 Award Application Dates:
Opening: May 1, 2026
Deadline: September 4, 2026 *Funds awarded by September 30, 2026
Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Clifford A. and Mary E. Gunter Memorial Teacher's Grant Award recipients:
>Erica Harris -5th Grade Teacher at Dahlgren Grade School
>Lynn Belangee - 2nd Grade Teacher at Dahlgren Grade School
>Lynnette Staley - District Music Teacher
>Drew Imhoff - High School Mathematics Teacher at Hamilton County Senior High (not pictured)
What is the Gunter Memorial Teacher's Grant?
Objective
• The objective of this award is to enhance the financial resources of teachers in Hamilton County Community Unit District #10.
Background
• It is the desire of the children of Clifford A. and Mary E. Gunter, consisting of John E. Gunter, Sharon D. Delawder, Mary R. Kraft, and Clifford L. Gunter, to establish an award honoring their parents, who graduated from McLeansboro High School in 1932 and 1938, respectively.
• Clifford A. Gunter taught school for over 40 years. He began his teaching career in Hamilton County’s one room schools. After serving with the U.S. Navy in World War II, he moved on to East Side Grade School. Subsequently, he was assigned to the West Side School, and finished his teaching career at Glen Oak School in Peoria, Illinois. Mary E. (King) Gunter was a homemaker and helpmate to her husband. She was the glue that held her family together during World Ware II, when she was the caretaker of two infirm, elderly grandparents and the mother of three active young children. Both parents instilled the value of education in their children.
Eligibility
• To receive the grant awards, applicants must be teachers in one of the four Unit 10 schools: Dahlgren Elementary, East Side Elementary, Hamilton County Junior High School, or Hamilton County Senior High School. Prior grant recipients are eligible to apply in subsequent years.
Selection Criteria
• The Gunter Teacher’s Grant Award shall be open to all applicants regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, disability, age or veteran status.
• Proposals will be evaluated on:
o Innovation and clarity
o Item, event or project description
o Impact on student achievement
o Collaboration with others
o Effectiveness of teaching approach
Select the "Apply Here" button at the top of the page.
Complete the application and submit with your signature via adobe sign web form.
Receive a confirmation email from hamcoschoolsfoundation@unit10.com.
*Selection committee will notify grantees once all applications have been reviewed and selection has been made after the submission deadline.
For questions or more information please contact the Hamilton County Schools Foundation at:
Email: hamcoschoolsfoundation@unit10.com
Phone: (618) 648-2328 ext. 6106