This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
My students are musicians in every way. My Pre-K through sixth grade students create and perform music in English, Spanish, and languages from around the world. Many of my students are bilingual and we strive to have a culturally inclusive classroom.
My goal for my classroom is for students to have access to quality music-making materials.
Our school is located in a low-income neighborhood and the majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. My students' current financial realities should not dictate what educational materials are available to them. We are hoping to fill the gap between what our school resources are able to provide and what is available to students in high-income neighborhoods.
My Project
Last year, NES was able to participate for the first time in the amazing program Guitars Over Guns. Guitars Over Guns is a Miami-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers students from our most vulnerable communities a powerful combination of music education and mentorship with professional musicians to help them overcome hardship, find their voice and reach their potential as tomorrow’s leaders. Guitars Over Guns creates safe spaces for youth to express themselves through music and empowers them to make positive choices at school, at home and in their communities.
The support this program was able to provide our students during the pandemic went well beyond musical support.
The organization provided a safe place for the students to express themselves musically while navigating the virtual learning communities. Middle school students are in such an awkward developmental stage that having the confidence to participate on video is even more difficult than participating in person. This partnership gave many of our students the emotional support needed for them to engage in virtual learning. Similarly to in the spring, students will work in digital learning groups remotely led by musician mentors to develop musicianship, technology, and social-emotional skills. We would love to continue this remote learning partnership, but do not have the funds to do so.
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
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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 Ms. Brown and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
