{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Kate Mitchell Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":34.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4759879,"projectId":9598664,"letterContent":"Wow! The conversations my students have while they build using K'NEX are amazing. They work together, make up stories, give and receive verbal directions, and have fun while they do it! These tools are used as a way to practice colors, shapes, and prepositions in my classroom. They may be working in teams or by themselves to recreate structures by following my verbal directions in English. They are motivated to find the piece I describe and attach it as I instruct to finish their creations. This is a fun and engaging way for them to practice speaking and listening in English! They don't even realize they're learning while they do it. \r\n\r\nThank you for continuing to help me integrate highly-engaging teaching strategies and learning activities in my EL classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1755736977377,"projectUrl":"project/knex-ing-students-to-success/9598664/","projectTitle":"K’NEX-ing Students to Success","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewalt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4759879_orig.jpg?crop=634,634,x704,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566187872613","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4759879"},{"teacherId":4759879,"projectId":9586195,"letterContent":"We really appreciate you providing our classroom with these wonderful puzzles. Over the years, I have used puzzles to help students develop many skills, such as hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, pattern identification, vocabulary, etc. In the last few years, I have noticed many students have never done a puzzle before attending my class and have struggled with applying these skills. This led me to seek puzzles that were less complex than the ones I had.\r\n\r\nSince getting these simpler puzzles, many students have really grown in the above skills. They are excited when we get to use a puzzle to practice a skill or practice cooperation. They love working in teams to complete the puzzle and have very rich conversations during that time. Thank you again for providing these opportunities for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1755737117180,"projectUrl":"project/putting-the-pieces-in-place-for-growth/9586195/","projectTitle":"Putting the Pieces in Place for Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewalt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4759879_orig.jpg?crop=634,634,x704,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566187872613","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4759879"},{"teacherId":4759879,"projectId":9576340,"letterContent":"My students were so excited to see our classroom \"magic\" boards unpacked. I was able to make copies of the lines we use to learn to write and attach them to these boards, so students could practice writing letters the \"author's way.\" They are so motivated to try again when they make mistakes because it is just as fun to see the letters disappear as it is to write them. \r\n\r\nThe writing support tools you provided, such as the color-coded writing paper, pencil grips, and finger spaces, have really helped my students who struggle to hold their pencil, form letters, and leave spaces for words in sentences. They enjoy using the tools as a support and have been making huge progress in formation and construction since using them. \r\n\r\nThank you for your continued support of our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1755737236295,"projectUrl":"project/write-on-empowering-students-with-schoo/9576340/","projectTitle":"Write On! Empowering Students with School Supplies & Boogie Boards","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewalt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4759879_orig.jpg?crop=634,634,x704,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566187872613","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4759879"},{"teacherId":4759879,"projectId":9435938,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to our classroom library. My students love the new seating options. They come in each day, and the first thing they do is reserve their reading chair. They are also having much more success finding books that match their area of interest as a result of your help in purchasing the library bins. I was able to separate our books by subject or topic, allowing the students to quickly locate their reading materials and immerse themselves in text. \r\n\r\nThank you again for providing engaging things to motivate student learning! \r\n\r\nAlicia Ewalt","fullyFundedDate":1755736802934,"projectUrl":"project/bin-there-read-that/9435938/","projectTitle":"Bin There, Read That!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewalt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4759879_orig.jpg?crop=634,634,x704,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566187872613","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4759879"},{"teacherId":8185754,"projectId":7759888,"letterContent":"Thanks to the generous support of this funding, our fifth-grade students had full access to a complete class set of the Battle of the Books selections. With books in every student's hands, all learners were able to fully immerse themselves in the stories, engage in meaningful discussions, and build deeper comprehension as they prepared for the competition.\r\n\r\nHaving shared classroom copies created equal opportunities for every student to participate, regardless of access to materials outside of school. The availability of these books fueled excitement for reading, strengthened critical-thinking skills, and fostered a supportive reading community within our classroom.\r\n\r\nAfter the Battle of the Books concluded, these titles were added to our classroom library, where they will continue to inspire students for years to come. This investment enriched our learning experience this year and left a lasting impact on our readers.\r\n\r\nWe were incredibly grateful for this support. Thank you for helping our students grow as readers, thinkers, and teammates!","fullyFundedDate":1693868060292,"projectUrl":"project/battle-of-the-books/7759888/","projectTitle":"Battle of the Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Standish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8185754_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y208&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666374930078","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8185754"},{"teacherId":8185754,"projectId":8388156,"letterContent":"This year, I welcomed a new group of eager fifth-grade students, excited to begin their journey. Independent reading played a significant role in our curriculum, and it was essential for students to find books that truly captivated them. These engaging reads sparked their curiosity and inspired them to explore the world of literature more deeply.\r\n\r\nThanks to this support, our classroom library grew with books that were well-matched to student interests and reading levels. Students were able to choose books that excited them, which strengthened their motivation to read and helped build positive, lifelong reading habits.\r\n\r\nYour contribution directly enriched my students' reading experience by providing them with books that ignited their love for reading. We are grateful for the lasting impact this had on their learning and enthusiasm for literature.","fullyFundedDate":1723669116423,"projectUrl":"project/5th-grade-books/8388156/","projectTitle":"5th Grade Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Standish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8185754_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y208&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666374930078","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8185754"},{"teacherId":8185754,"projectId":9082566,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our project! Living in Iowa means we never quite know what the weather will bring, and your donation ensures that even on rainy or chilly days, our students have fun, engaging activities to enjoy indoors.\r\n\r\nThese new resources help turn indoor recess and classroom time into opportunities for creativity, teamwork, and collaboration. Instead of feeling disappointed when we can't go outside, students now look forward to the chance to work together, explore new activities, and build stronger connections with one another.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, we are able to create a vibrant and positive learning environment for every day, no matter what the weather looks like outside. We are so grateful for your generosity and support of our classroom community.","fullyFundedDate":1746785527556,"projectUrl":"project/rainy-day-escapes-engaging-classroom-pl/9082566/","projectTitle":"Rainy Day Escapes: Engaging Classroom Play for Gloomy Weather","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Standish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8185754_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y208&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666374930078","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8185754"},{"teacherId":8185754,"projectId":7151833,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom project! My 5th graders love using the electronic math practice tools. These resources give them the chance to build strong math fact fluency in a fun and engaging way. \r\n\r\nIn 5th grade, we place a big emphasis on mastering math facts, as it boosts confidence and strengthens skills across all areas of math and even in real-world problem solving. With these tools, students can practice independently and take more ownership of their learning, which helps them develop accountability and a stronger number sense. \r\n\r\nYour donation is helping my students gain the confidence they need to succeed not only in math class but also in their future learning. We are so grateful for your kindness and belief in the importance of education.","fullyFundedDate":1682904820538,"projectUrl":"project/creating-strong-mental-math-skills/7151833/","projectTitle":"Creating Strong Mental Math Skills","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Standish","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8185754_orig.jpg?crop=2400,2400,x0,y208&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1666374930078","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8185754"},{"teacherId":4759879,"projectId":9144981,"letterContent":"These LEGO sets are a huge hit! Twice a month, we build our vocabulary and listening skills as well as shape recognition by working together to build a LEGO set. Each student is given a pile of LEGO and I hold the instruction manual. I describe the piece needed as well as the location in which it should be placed. They look in their piles for that piece and follow directions to place it accordingly. For our beginning EL students, it teaches shape and object vocabulary as well as preposition words. It also requires them to ask for help or clarification if there is confusion. Having the pictures available if they are struggling has been very helpful! \r\n\r\nThank you for making this learning process engaging and fun!","fullyFundedDate":1741467328488,"projectUrl":"project/building-brighter-minds-unlocking-langu/9144981/","projectTitle":"Building Brighter Minds: Unlocking Language With LEGO in the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ewalt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4759879_orig.jpg?crop=634,634,x704,y69&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1566187872613","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4759879"},{"teacherId":4135490,"projectId":8798956,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping to add Spanish language titles to our school library shelves! It is so important to have books that all students can read.\r\n\r\nAs soon as we received these new books I got them ready for checkout. I cleared a section of our shelves to dedicate to our new Spanish titles. I've made a point to show this new section to our Spanish speaking students, and I made sure our ESL teachers were aware of these new titles so they could help promote them as well. \r\n\r\nThe students have been so excited about this new section in our library! We had a few books in Spanish on our shelves already, but we definitely had a demand and need to grow this section this year. With your generous support, we've been able to add picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels in Spanish. \r\n\r\nThank you so much for helping to keep ALL our students excited about books. Your generosity is so appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1733805973706,"projectUrl":"project/library-books-in-spanish-gracias/8798956/","projectTitle":"Library Books in Spanish - Gracias!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Minion","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4135490_orig.png?crop=346,347,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1663200468600","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-minion"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_52096","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":314,"numTeachers":18,"percentFrplEligible":51,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":56,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":15,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"17.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":65.6,"schoolId":52096,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Kate Mitchell Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Kate Mitchell Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/iowa/ames-community-school-district/kate-mitchell-elementary-school/52096"}
Join the 122 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Kate Mitchell Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Ames, Iowa that is part of Ames Community School District.
It serves 314 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 17.4:1.
Its teachers have had 74 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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
34%
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.
Kate Mitchell Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 2025
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.
Kate Mitchell Elementary School
$40,248
raised using DonorsChoose
74
projects
funded
14
teachers
funded
122
donors
3
projects
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
44
projects for
books
1
project
for
art supplies
Kate Mitchell Elementary School has received support from
80 individuals from Iowa and
42 individuals out-of-state.