{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Donald C Parker Early Education Center","outOfStateSupporters":31.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9570288,"projectId":9930971,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping us get some flexible seating for our classroom. The students are loving having a choice for seating and getting some movement in at the same time to help them focus. \r\nCurrently, we have a helper of the day who gets to choose what type of seat to use. Our reading nook has some of the choices, and small groups use the seats when at the listening station. My goal is to have enough seats that each student can have a seat of their choice at the tables. \r\n\r\nAgain, we cannot do it without our donors and we appreciate your support.","fullyFundedDate":1764686391684,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating/9930971/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Leese","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9570288_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718566337548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9570288"},{"teacherId":2824142,"projectId":9961978,"letterContent":"To describe our new marble run as popular would be an understatement. It is the hottest center in the Parker Center Library! Students who never tried the old marble run make a point of playing with the new one. It has had a major impact on how students learn through play.\r\nBecause Parker Center serves as the early childhood center for the entire district, we have multiple self-contained special education programs housed in the building. If I had to select a group that has gained the most from the new marble run, it would be students in our self-contained special education classes. Many of these students are non-verbal or have limited verbal ability. The wonder and excitement of the marble run has spurred a great deal of language! From \"wow\" to \"try again\", \"uh-oh\" to \"great job\", the language gains for these students while playing at the marble run has been tremendous. It is a great reminder that play is an authentic way to learn. Thank you for helping us to create this new learning opportunity.","fullyFundedDate":1766076004484,"projectUrl":"project/marble-run-fun/9961978/","projectTitle":"Marble Run Fun","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hembrough","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2824142_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1479737005277","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/meghan-hembrough"},{"teacherId":994478,"projectId":9229345,"letterContent":"There is not much that an educator enjoys more than seeing a book in the hands of child! We use the books you helped purchase to assess a child's expressive and receptive language skills by asking them to point to named animals, objects, or colors or to tell us the names of objects. \r\nOther books help the children calm down when they see familiar characters from TV shows or movies they love, familiar and favorite animals and brightly colored objects and pictures.\r\nThese books have helped children about to turn three and those up to the age of almost 6 feel safe, feel calm, and feel joy. Thank you for giving them that!","fullyFundedDate":1746530751139,"projectUrl":"project/board-books-for-prek/9229345/","projectTitle":"Board Books for PreK","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Svetich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp994478_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y408&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1637179920650","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/994478"},{"teacherId":994478,"projectId":9162746,"letterContent":"The tools you helped purchase have allowed the students to calm their bodies during times of separation from their parents. For some, this is the FIRST time they are separating from Mom or Dad. \r\n\r\nMany of the children have been receiving Early Intervention therapy services due to identified delays. The therapies they have been receiving are home based and the goals are family driven. Mom or Dad have been with them every step of the way. The government funding that pays for these services ends at the age of 3. Any services that the child may continue to need will then be provided for through the local public school district. \r\n\r\nHaving age appropriate, enticing and developmentally appropriate sensory tools and toys helps the child self regulation and feel safe in their new school environment, allowing them to show us their true selves.","fullyFundedDate":1743691419367,"projectUrl":"project/sensory-soothes-the-brain/9162746/","projectTitle":"Sensory Soothes the Brain","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Svetich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp994478_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y408&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1637179920650","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/994478"},{"teacherId":994478,"projectId":9054359,"letterContent":"The addition of these items has made waiting an easier task for the young children who come into our building. As parents and their child need to wait, the child is able to engage meaningfully with the tools you provided us with. Having the child engaged puts the parents at ease which gives them the ability to hear and process what we are saying, and comfortable asking questions regarding what was heard.\r\n\r\nWith the funding in public education shrinking daily, Donors Choose provides teachers and students with tools they would otherwise go with","fullyFundedDate":1736999073611,"projectUrl":"project/lets-go-on-a-sensory-hunt/9054359/","projectTitle":"Lets Go on a Sensory Hunt!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Svetich","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp994478_orig.jpg?crop=2448,2448,x0,y408&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1637179920650","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/994478"},{"teacherId":8345613,"projectId":9085575,"letterContent":"The Tonies and books we have received have been a huge hit. I have used them to create a listening center during our ELA time. Student are able to choose a Tonie and the accompanying book, and listen to the story with headphones. I have splitters, so two students can listen to the story together. I am very proud of how well the students have been utilizing the listening center and happy to see how excited they are to go to the center. \r\n\r\nAs soon as the Tonies and books began to arrive, the students were asking about them. We have a class meeting where I explained what they were and how they were going to be used in our classroom. The students' faces lit up as they learned about how they can listen to a book being read to them and follow along in the book. They have been great with being respectful with the items, and they are always engaged in the stories.\r\n\r\nI am so happy to have been able to provide this center to my students and we are so grateful to have received the items! Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1739374258351,"projectUrl":"project/independent-reading-with-tonies/9085575/","projectTitle":"Independent Reading With TONIES!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jury","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8345613"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_26111","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":562,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":7,"percentWhite":62,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - K","studentTeacherRatio":"14.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":68.9,"schoolId":26111,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Donald C Parker Early Education Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Donald C Parker Early Education Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/harlem-unit-school-district-122/donald-c-parker-early-education-ctr/26111"}
Join the 161 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Donald C Parker Early Education Center is
a suburban public school
in MacHesney Pk., Illinois that is part of Harlem Unit School District 122.
It serves 562 students
in grades Pre-K - K with a student/teacher ratio of 14.8:1.
Its teachers have had 50 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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Donald C Parker Early Education Center Demographics
95%
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
27%
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.
Donald C Parker Early Education Center Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 20, 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.
Donald C Parker Early Education Center
$22,764
raised using DonorsChoose
50
projects
funded
13
teachers
funded
161
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
1
project for
technology
6
projects for
books
5
projects
for
art supplies
Donald C Parker Early Education Center has received support from
111 individuals from Illinois and
50 individuals out-of-state.
