Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School in Walker, Minnesota on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":41.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10214526,"projectId":9639330,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating the materials needed for our hands on science lessons. We just finished up our animal unit. In these photos we learned about different kinds of beaks birds have. The students enjoyed trying to pick up food with a duck like bill and a more pointy beak. This fostered great discussion. \r\n\r\nToday we learned about light and shadows and the flashlights came in very handy! It brings the concepts we are learning and talking about to life and it is so much fun to watch the students excitement and curiosity grow with each hands on lesson. \r\n\r\nMany students say that science is the best part of the day now. Thank you so much for your donation and generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1756312078096,"projectUrl":"project/hands-on-science-materials/9639330/","projectTitle":"Hands-on Science Materials","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Eckart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10214526_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755817281618","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10214526"},{"teacherId":10053930,"projectId":9407590,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible support, our STEM Makerspace is now stocked with creative, hands-on materials that my students use every day! From the moment we opened the supplies, students were buzzing with excitement. I heard things like \"We get to build with this?\" and \"I love this class!\" The materials you helped provide, craft sticks, straws, tape, rubber bands, modeling clay, and more, have turned our classroom into a hub of engineering and exploration.\r\n\r\nWe've already used the makerspace supplies for several STEM challenges. Students are learning how to plan, test, and revise their designs, all while collaborating with one another and thinking critically. The best part? Every student feels like they belong in STEM, because these materials invite creativity, trial-and-error, and fun.\r\n\r\nThis project has allowed me to provide an accessible, engaging makerspace for all grade levels, where students get to apply science and engineering concepts through real-world challenges. Thank you for believing in the power of hands-on learning and making this kind of joyful, student-driven exploration possible!","fullyFundedDate":1750865404516,"projectUrl":"project/invent-build-create-stem-makerspace/9407590/","projectTitle":"Invent, Build, Create: STEM Makerspace","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Powers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10053930_orig.jpg?crop=3072,3072,x0,y757&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749603777942","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kelliepowers"},{"teacherId":10053930,"projectId":9407420,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our Outdoor STEM project is officially underway and students are absolutely loving it! One of the first days we unpacked the tools, students were thrilled to discover that they could use \"real scientist tools\" like magnifying glasses, anemometers, thermal thermometers, and binoculars. We've already taken several science walks along the nature trail behind our school, where students observed the variety of animals and vegetation, compared different types of trees, and used binoculars to spot birds in the distance. They especially loved using the thermal sensor to measure the temperature of rocks, grass, and tree bark in both sun and shade. Every walk turns into a discovery mission, and the tools you helped provide have transformed those moments from simple outdoor time into rich, hands-on investigations.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we plan to revisit the nature trail throughout the school year to collect seasonal data, track plant changes, and observe weather patterns using the anemometers and thermometers. I'm working on introducing simple data collection charts and nature journaling into each grade level to help students practice making observations and drawing scientific conclusions based on what they see outdoors. Your donation is helping students become curious, capable scientists, not just in the classroom, but in the real world. Thank you for making these experiences possible!","fullyFundedDate":1750208838777,"projectUrl":"project/stem-explorers-taking-learning-outside/9407420/","projectTitle":"STEM Explorers: Taking Learning Outside!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Powers","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10053930_orig.jpg?crop=3072,3072,x0,y757&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749603777942","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kelliepowers"},{"teacherId":10236469,"projectId":9672492,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support!\r\n\r\nOur students thoroughly enjoyed reading The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. Many were able to connect personally with one of the main characters, and they engaged thoughtfully in discussions about bullying and the role of bystanders. This book, along with our classroom conversations, helped set a positive and reflective tone for the school year.\r\n\r\nThe book also served as a valuable historical resource. Students explored what schools were like in the past and gained a deeper appreciation for their own educational experiences by comparing them to those of children from earlier times.\r\n\r\nOne of the most memorable moments was unpacking our box of brand-new books. Each student was thrilled to receive their own copy, and even after completing the unit, the books still look fantastic—students handled them with great care and respect.\r\n\r\nThis was our first Donors Choose project, and it was a wonderful experience. We're so grateful!","fullyFundedDate":1757085049439,"projectUrl":"project/a-story-for-every-scholar/9672492/","projectTitle":"A Story for Every Scholar","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Richter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10236469"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_74428","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":369,"numTeachers":37,"percentFrplEligible":68,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":56,"percentIndigenous":27,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"10.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":58.6,"schoolId":74428,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/minnesota/walker-hackensack-akeley-113/walker-hackensack-akeley-elementary-school/74428"}

About this school

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School is a rural public school in Walker, Minnesota that is part of Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 113. It serves 369 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.0:1. Its teachers have had 35 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 6

369 Students

37 Teachers

301 4th St

Walker, MN 56484 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Eckart

Ms. Powers

Ms. Richter

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. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School Demographics

68%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

32%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 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.