This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
I teach at a Title I inner-city school in Memphis, TN where the majority of all students in attendance come from a low economic background and at least 95 percent of our students receive free or reduced rate lunches at school.
Some of my students are very active, model students having schedules packed with extra-curricular activities while others struggle with behavior, learning, and attention difficulties.
Much of my time is focused on exploring methods to engage with each student to inspire their participation, at a minimum, and spark a determination to learn.
I find that most are bored with the classroom and it's my belief that I can change that by investing my time and our resources into their development, during school and as part of after-school activities.
My Project
Soccer is an aggressive team sport and using the right safety gear is imperative for not only physical health but for team morale as well. Coaching soccer in an economically-disadvantaged area highlights the reality that even the few players we have who have played the sport before do not possess their own cleats, shin guards, or any other athletic gear.
Many of our student-athletes are practicing without shin guards, some are using cleats from our school's lost and found, and our first-year goalkeeper is bare-handing the ball in the goal frame.
The Goalie gloves and other pads will provide protection from the abuse our goal keeper's body will take over the course of the season while the shin guards will protect our players' lower legs; thereby enabling them to be active participants in the competitive sport.
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 Mr. Entrekin and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.