Murrieta teachers face Oct. 30 deadline for $1,000 water grants

Murrieta Valley Unified School District teachers can apply for up to $1,000 to fund water-focused classroom projects, field trips or lessons before an Oct. 30 deadline.

Western Municipal Water District's Lois B. Krieger Water Project Grants for Educators program is accepting applications through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. The grants cover water-related projects for K-12 educators across western Riverside County, including schools in the Murrieta area.

The program has run since 1995. It is named for Lois B. Krieger, the first female president of the Association of California Water Agencies. She served as Western Water's representative to The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for 25 years.

Eight Murrieta teachers received Krieger grants during the 2025-2026 cycle. At Murrieta Valley High School, Don Fitzgerald, Jenna Ibanez and Jessica Hoxmeier were among the recipients. Five Murrieta Elementary School teachers also received grants: Mark Zavodnik, Erin Vogel, Terra Varney, Ashley Moore and Halsey Jonswold.

In October 2025, Western Water surprised a local teacher identified as Mrs. Palagi with a $1,000 Krieger Grant to help her students attend science camp, according to the Murrieta Times' earlier report. In all, the district honored 38 educators at its annual Arts & Grants Reception the week of May 15.

Who can apply

K-12 educators at public, private or home schools within Western Water's 527-square-mile service area are eligible. Teachers may apply individually or as a group. Existing 2025-2026 grant recipients whose projects are still incomplete cannot apply in this cycle.

Applications are reviewed as they come in, and approved projects may receive funding before the deadline. Western Water encourages early submission.

Grants of up to $1,000 do not require IRS tax reporting, according to the program's official page.