People often ask me why I commute so far away to teach when I could work in a much more affluent community closer to where I live. The simple answer is because I have never been a happier teacher than when I'm with my students. They make me smile, laugh, sing, and dance and challenge me every day.
There are five different primary languages in my homeroom this year.
The entire district receives free breakfast and lunch due to high poverty levels. They make me exhausted and make me want to do more, and there's nowhere else I'd rather be.
My Project
When you're a STEM teacher, you have a love of all living things. You are more than just a teacher, you are a student yourself and always learning new ideas to try. You are always looking for new ways to get the kids excited and curious.
In first grade the kids are full of wonder about things living in the world around them.
They love looking at plants and animals and all the little creatures around them. With an aquaponics system, my students and I will be able to learn so much more about the connections between plants and animals, and how they interact. Together we will learn about plant and animal interdependence and cause and effect. This will hopefully stay with them throughout their lives and help them have a greater sense of ownership for the living things in their world.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Hemstreet and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
