Poplar Bluff High School teacher secures grants to support special education math program

KBSI FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) – A Poplar Bluff High School math teacher has secured two grants to help expand resources for his special education classroom.

Keith Burson, who joined the district after a 38-year career in clinical laboratory work, was awarded a total of $750 through two programs aimed at supporting inclusive learning environments.

In May, Burson received $250 from the Southeast Missouri Local Administrators of Special Education for Access Algebra, an evidence-based curriculum designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“This curriculum empowers special education students to engage with content that is often beyond their reach in traditional settings, promoting confidence, skill development and academic progress,” Burson wrote in his proposal.

At the district’s back-to-school convocation in August, Burson was awarded an additional $500 from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association Foundation to purchase hands-on manipulatives and visual aids to complement the program.

“Research supports multi-sensory strategies for improving comprehension and retention for students with learning challenges,” Burson said. “These tools will help build student confidence, increase engagement and support academic achievement.”

Burson began working as a paraprofessional at Poplar Bluff Middle School before earning his teaching certification and transitioning to the high school. Now in his third year as an educator, he said the funding will allow him to supplement his instruction and reach nearly 90% of his classroom resource goals.