{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mary Lillard Intermediate School","outOfStateSupporters":6.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9734268,"projectId":9299207,"letterContent":"My students were cautious but curious as each package for our new garden project arrived. We unpacked each item—the small greenhouse, indoor seed starter with lights, strawberry bags, and raised beds—carefully exploring what we'll use once we find the perfect location. This helped me start a conversation about how we would set up our community garden and what we might grow together in class.\r\n\r\nMy goal is to transform this collection of supplies into a vibrant, hands-on learning space for my students. Through planting, watering, and caring for the garden, my students will discover how growing their own food can reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainability. These daily tasks will nurture responsibility, patience, and an understanding of the environment.\r\n\r\nWhen harvest time comes, we plan to share what we grow with our school community, turning the garden into both an interactive classroom and a gathering place. This experience will not only teach science and healthy eating habits but also build pride as my students see their hard work feed others and strengthen our sense of community.","fullyFundedDate":1746456462442,"projectUrl":"project/the-giving-garden-a-student-led-communi/9299207/","projectTitle":"The Giving Garden: A Student-Led Community Garden","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nickerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9734268_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746061758569","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsnickersonteaches"},{"teacherId":9734268,"projectId":9299296,"letterContent":"Thanks to this generous donation, I've been able to teach self-regulation and emotional awareness skills in a fun and meaningful way using A Little SPOT resources. The characters make learning about feelings exciting and relatable for my students. The ASL feelings cards have helped my nonverbal students express emotions more confidently, while the sensory and fidget tools, like the Gel-Bead Emotion Friends and marble maze mats, give students hands-on strategies to calm and refocus. The emotion coin drop and plush toys encourage daily discussions about how we feel and how to respond appropriately. These materials have transformed my classroom into a supportive, sensory-friendly environment where students can understand, communicate, and manage their emotions in positive ways.","fullyFundedDate":1746785948076,"projectUrl":"project/sel-support-through-stories-sensory-to/9299296/","projectTitle":"SEL Support Through Stories & Sensory Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nickerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9734268_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746061758569","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsnickersonteaches"},{"teacherId":9734268,"projectId":9299305,"letterContent":"The entire class was excited as each item arrived! They were eager to touch everything, experiment with the glowing letters, and dive into the bins! Our class loves exploring our new light box! We use it daily to practice spelling words, names, and the ABCs, and even math activities like adding and subtracting. It even doubles as a calming sensory break with the tracing activities that came with it. The sensory bins are super popular— they love to scoop, pour, and sort while strengthening fine-motor skills and language. Next, we'll build on this excitement by creating themed light-box word hunts that connect to our current science and story units. Students will spell vocabulary words, match beginning sounds, and design patterns with the translucent pieces, turning literacy and science lessons into multi sensory adventures.","fullyFundedDate":1746785649798,"projectUrl":"project/lighting-up-learning-sensory-play/9299305/","projectTitle":"Lighting Up Learning & Sensory Play","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Nickerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9734268_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746061758569","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsnickersonteaches"},{"teacherId":9734268,"projectId":9372924,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, reading in my special needs classroom has truly come alive. The adapted books with braille, tactile elements, ASL support, and AAC-friendly features have opened new doors for every child. One of the biggest joys has been watching my deaf student fall in love with the Emma Every Day series—she lights up seeing a character who signs like she does, and it has given her so much pride in her reading. My visually impaired student now confidently explores braille books like DK's Braille Shapes and Braille Animals, while another student beams as she \"reads\" along using her AAC device. Reading time is no longer something a few students participate in—it's a space where everyone is included and celebrated.\r\n\r\nThese books have also given me powerful ways to teach new skills. Through How Are You Feeling Today? from the Emma and Egor series, my students are learning to sign emotions like happy, sad, and excited, which helps them connect feelings to expressive language. We've also made What is the Weather Like Today? part of our morning meeting routine, and now students eagerly sign \"sunny,\" \"rainy,\" or \"cold\" as they talk about the weather. 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Join the 309 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Mary Lillard Intermediate School is
a suburban public school
in Mansfield, Texas that is part of Mansfield Independent School District.
It serves 741 students
in grades 5 - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.1:1.
Its teachers have had 31 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
77%
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.
Mary Lillard Intermediate 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
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Mary Lillard Intermediate School
$27,426
raised using DonorsChoose
31
projects
funded
22
teachers
funded
309
donors
2
projects for
technology
2
projects for
books
Mary Lillard Intermediate School has received support from
290 individuals from Texas and
19 individuals out-of-state.