{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"A.J. Stepanski Early Childhood Center","outOfStateSupporters":24.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6376440,"projectId":10141840,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the educational materials for my classroom! My students are enjoying using them and are learning so much!\r\n\r\nThe CVC word cards are a big hit and are helping my students to learn letter sounds and three letter words! I love how they have different levels due to all of my students being on different levels!\r\n\r\nThe nonfiction books are also a huge hit! My students love to learn about animals and their habitats! They really love the Frog book and we actually found a Frog on our playground so now we have a class pet :) Thank you so much for being so generous and helping us out!","fullyFundedDate":1774963681987,"projectUrl":"project/book-explosion/10141840/","projectTitle":"Book Explosion","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ashley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6376440_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689020463982","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-bingham1"},{"teacherId":10351871,"projectId":9898308,"letterContent":"Early literacy is not just about learning to read, in preschool classrooms, literacy experiences lay the foundation for communication, confidence, and lifelong learning. By investing time and resources into preschool literacy it creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom.\r\nExposing children to early literacy such as; books, storytelling, songs, and conversations, they begin to understand language in meaningful ways. They learn that words carry ideas, that stories have structure, and that their own voices matter. These early interactions build vocabulary, listening skills, and comprehension which are critical components for later academic success.\r\nPreschool literacy also strengthens social and emotional development. As children engage with stories, they explore emotions, relationships, and different perspectives. They learn empathy, self-expression, and problem-solving skills. A simple storytime can help a child understand kindness, resilience, or curiosity in ways that shape their character.\r\nI cannot believe the generosity of family, friends, and strangers. It has meant the world to me that you all support me, and my students, in getting these new items for my classroom.\r\nIn the classroom the flannel boards have allowed the students a new way to explore stories, they are able to retell stories using pieces. My students tell stories by themselves and with their friends. We also love the alphabet, which comes with our flannel boards, they help us practice letters and sound recognition. The student's favorite way to use the letters is to lay them out, then the students use the images to connect them with the letter their picture begins with. We have seen an increase in my student's ability to figure out what letter their object starts with.\r\nOnce again, I cannot thank everyone enough for supporting my classroom with this project.","fullyFundedDate":1769188582333,"projectUrl":"project/look-i-can-read-preschool-storytellin/9898308/","projectTitle":"Look, I Can Read! Preschool Storytelling!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ressler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10351871"},{"teacherId":6376440,"projectId":9957409,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your very generous and helpful donations! My students love the new materials and we are learning so much within our classroom! These items have allowed my students to expand their pretend play and work collaboratively with their peers on goals that they have in mind for their play. This opens up so much communication and language skills for my students and we greatly appreciate it!! The dolls and the pretend play dishes have allowed my students to take on pretend play roles that includes family and community worker roles. We really appreciate the kindness!","fullyFundedDate":1769288687084,"projectUrl":"project/music-and-arts-exploration/9957409/","projectTitle":"Music and Arts Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ashley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6376440_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689020463982","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-bingham1"},{"teacherId":6376440,"projectId":9915121,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to promote literacy and communication skills within my classroom. My students are having so much fun using the puppets and dress up clothes that were provided by you all! \r\n\r\nThere has been so much pretend play happening in our classroom and we are even acting stories out while using the puppets! These items helped my students to grow their love for reading and learning and has also improved their communication skills.\r\n\r\nLearning through play is huge in our classroom and these materials help my students to make choices and use their imaginations! We appreciate all of your help!","fullyFundedDate":1764795505675,"projectUrl":"project/dramatic-play-exploration/9915121/","projectTitle":"Dramatic Play Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ashley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6376440_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1689020463982","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-bingham1"},{"teacherId":8114234,"projectId":9880425,"letterContent":"The technology and STEM tools and toys provided have helped my students learn by giving them hands-on, meaningful ways to explore STEM concepts. The iPad allows students to safely explore technology with teacher support by looking up questions and curiosities, taking virtual field trips, and visiting online libraries, while building early digital literacy skills.\r\n\r\nStudents are most excited that learning feels fun and interactive. Using the iPad along with STEAM toys and books encourages curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration, which has increased engagement and teamwork within the classroom, it has opened up new vocabulary and ideas on how and what we can use these toys and tools for and how we can work together to make or research what we want! \r\n\r\nSeveral students, especially hands-on and visual learners, have really connected with this technology. They have found a love for research, and learning about things we are able to explore through online library's, and online field trips. Some quieter students have become more confident and eager to participate during STEM activities and games, as well as our new STEM related books.","fullyFundedDate":1766009495425,"projectUrl":"project/stem-starts-here-building-bright-future/9880425/","projectTitle":"STEM Starts Here: Building Bright Futures for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Makayla","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8114234_orig.jpg?crop=1102,1102,x0,y165&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633441411914","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/classe13"},{"teacherId":6376440,"projectId":9468864,"letterContent":"Thank you so so much for caring so much about my students! Your kindness is the reason why my students are able to search things they are interested in and learn about the world around them through technology. \r\n\r\nMy students have been very interested in learning about animals and the tablet has helped them learn how to use Google to search the animals they want to learn about! The tablet has also helped them to learn how to sound words out in order to type them into Google.\r\n\r\nSeeing my students light up as they learn about things they are interested in reminds me of all the great reasons why I became a teacher of young children! 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They are both a great addition to our cozy corner and helps with the calmness of that area. 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Join the 74 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
A.J. Stepanski Early Childhood Center is
a public school
in Waterford, Michigan that is part of Waterford School District.
It serves 450 students
in grades Pre-K - Pre-K.
Its teachers have had 15 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Public School
Grades Pre-K - Pre-K
450 Students
# of teachers unavailable
6010 Hatchery RdContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
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A.J. Stepanski Early Childhood Center Demographics
78%
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
29%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
A.J. Stepanski Early Childhood Center Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Jun 1, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
A.J. Stepanski Early Childhood Center
$7,979
raised using DonorsChoose
15
projects
funded
8
teachers
funded
74
donors
4
projects for
technology
2
projects for
books
A.J. Stepanski Early Childhood Center has received support from
56 individuals from Michigan and
18 individuals out-of-state.
