2026 Grants in Place Project Spotlight: Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship Through Math - Bushnell, IL

Dr. Ruth Owusu-Ansah (EdD) teaches special education at Bushnell Prairie-City High School in Bushnell, IL. Ruth’s project, Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship Through Math, is supported by Rural Schools Collaborative’s (RSC) Grants in Place program. Each year, the Grants in Place program awards rural educators from across the country grants to foster Place-Based Education projects that connect their classrooms to their local communities. Applicants and awardees are often referred to the program through RSC’s Regional Hub partners—in this case, Western Illinois Regional Hub contact Jim La Prad graciously recommended the opportunity to 2026 Illinois awardee, Ruth. Recently, the RSC team had the opportunity to join Ruth and her students on a field trip exploring local small businesses, giving students a firsthand look at what it takes to run a successful business.

In their building, Ruth’s students run their own school-wide store, selling items such as chips, candy, bottled water, and energy drinks. Through this experience, students build practical math and financial literacy skills. “Students are learning the importance of managing money, including counting, which is often intertwined with their daily work in the class,” Ruth shared. Beyond academics, the store fosters a strong sense of ownership and pride among students.

The field trip brought excitement to the students, especially for one ninth grader who was “excited to meet new people.” Ruth’s students arrived at Kelso & Co. in downtown Macomb, IL, about a 20-minute drive from Bushnell Prairie-City High School. Kelso & Co. is a small apparel business that makes and sells t-shirts and other apparel with a common theme of rural living. The mission of their business is to “connect rural men and women back to their roots through rad farm apparel." Kari Jo, the owner, presented about her business, including the challenges, particularly the impact of social media algorithms changing so often. Students asked her questions, including, "What types of college classes do you recommend taking to help run a business?” Kari Jo surprised a few students with her answer: “I actually learned to do this business on my own through YouTube and podcasts. There’s so much education online now that’s free. You don’t always have to go to college to learn how to do a skill like running a t-shirt business.”

After wrapping up at Kelso & Co., the next stop was a short walk to 309 Marketplace. Their business model introduced something new to the students: rent based on space size and commission on sales. 309 Marketplace had a vision of creating a year-round marketplace for local businesses. Those businesses offer a variety of products, including boutiques, candles, and handmade items. Ruth prompted a question: “What would these students need to be able to set up their own business successfully?” 309 Marketplace answered this question by referring the students to a resource, the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) Program, for them to learn more about it. 

In Macomb, a program called the McDonough County CEO Program allows students in high school to learn everything they need to know about starting their own business, creating their own products/services, and showing them at a trade show. One student really perked up hearing about this unique opportunity. LaMario is interested in clothing design and selling his work through his own business and reflected that has “learned to sew and make clothes in sewing class at school, including jeans and a sweater with patches. I am learning the importance of being vocal and more open for business success.” Ruth mentioned that the class store has been beneficial not only for learning about money but also for learning how to be confident in real-life situations. 

After learning the ins and outs of two clothing and gift stores, the group headed to Platinum Salon. The salon owner discussed the process of setting up her salon, which she has operated for about 12 years. The salon offers a full range of services, including hair, nails, and skin. Here, students explored the operations of what it took to design the salon building and how, after many years of owning the business, she still makes sure to research what other salons offer and price services to always remain affordable but competitive. Students interested in this business asked questions about the schooling process for becoming a hairdresser, how long it takes to learn how to do nails, and where they can go to school to earn a certificate. 

Throughout the semester, Ruth has provided real-world experience for her students through her project and place-based field trip. Moreover, using an innovative approach to teaching math and financial literacy through a class store has boosted learning outcomes. By connecting students to local businesses and real-life experiences, Ruth is not only teaching math—she's helping students envision their future. With a long teaching career that started in Ghana, Ruth feels very supported in her small school, leading this project. “I want my impact to be felt. It's new here because our culture and your culture are so different. I needed a space where I'd be able to learn and grow, and in order to learn and grow, you have to start from a small school. You have to start from a small community and know how they're able to support you.” 

RSC would like to thank Ruth for allowing Rural Schools Collaborative to attend her class field trip. RSC also would like to thank our Illinois Hub partners at Galesburg Community Foundation, Monmouth College, and Western Illinois University (WIU) for their support of projects like these.

To learn more about Ruth’s project and the other Grants in Place grantees, click here.