{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"R.N. Harris Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":28.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8416609,"projectId":8305563,"letterContent":"The defunct computer lab at R.N. Harris Elementary inside the school library was an excellent space to convert into a STEAM Lab. The school district distributed laptops to every student, therefore, the old desktop computers were not being updated or serviced and were just taking up valuable educational space.\r\n\r\nOur school was previously an A+ Integrated Arts and Core Knowledge school so I had the foundation of ideas to incorporate all subjects into the library with hands-on activities. I started with Field Trip Digital Photography, Poetry, then Recycled Arts. I had been collecting recycled materials for years and storing them at home in hopes of one day incorporating recycled arts in the classroom, but it never materialized. \r\n\r\nIn my fourth year of becoming the school librarian, I had an idea to bring all the recycled materials to school and just jump in and make something with the students. I was inspired by Jonathan Daniel's \"Jono The Boy Without Much: The Day of An Empty Metal Bucket.\" Mr. Daniels conducted a virtual workshop displaying his wire art through the North Carolina Museum of History's annual African American Cultural Celebration. \"Jono The Boy Without Much\" is about him as a young boy with his friends making a game out of a discarded bucket. Mr. Daniels grew up making games out of trash, and when he grew older, he made wire art out of discarded materials.\r\n\r\nThe first sessions in the STEAM Lab were a fun mess. True, the students were engaged and found wonder in creating whatever their imagination allowed with all kinds of materials. However, the clean up was a serious problem. I discontinued the recycled arts for the rest of the year choosing to focus on digital photography and poetry instead.\r\n\r\nThe next year, volunteers helped to organize the materials a little better and I went forward with the Recycled Arts for Black History Month shaker instruments and drums with first graders. This project was a success. I started with a non-negotiable design process. It was based on a book, \"Freedom in Congo Square.\" Students could make either a shaker or a drum to celebrate as the enslaved persons did in Congo Square on their only day of rest. The materials were better organized and that aided in what the students were able to choose from for their projects.\r\n\r\nThis success led me to seek funding from Donors Choose to acquire storage drawers for organizing the STEAM Lab, actually, the STREAM Lab: Science, Technology, Reading & Research, Engineering, Art, and Math. \"For easier access, the storage drawers will provide organization for young learners to gather materials to work out their designs. Using clear containers will help students in thinking, designing, and making in the STREAM Lab by seeing what items are readily available to them.\"\r\n\r\nRecycling teaches stewardship of our planet, mindfulness about trash, and fosters imagination. Our school district has adopted an \"Everyday STEM by Design: Dream. Design. Do.\" With an organized STREAM Lab at R.N. Harris Elementary, we are on our way to a labeled, organized, and easily accessible productive learning space to benefit all learners.","fullyFundedDate":1715220438983,"projectUrl":"project/organizing-the-steam-lab/8305563/","projectTitle":"Organizing the STEAM Lab","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Glenn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8416609_orig.jpg?crop=1472,1472,x0,y206&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649810741340","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8416609"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_1462","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":279,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":49,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":42,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":71.4,"schoolId":1462,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about R.N. Harris Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"R.N. Harris Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/durham-public-schools/r-n-harris-elementary-school/1462"}

R.N. Harris Elementary School

Join the 84 supporters who believe in this school.

About this school

R.N. Harris Elementary School is an urban public school in Durham, North Carolina that is part of Durham Public Schools. It serves 279 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 9.0:1. Its teachers have had 22 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

279 Students

31 Teachers

1520 Cooper St

Durham, NC 27703 View local requests

http://www.harris.dpsnc.net/

Evidence-based impact

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

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

R.N. Harris Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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R.N. Harris Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

91%

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.

R.N. Harris Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 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.

R.N. Harris Elementary School

$10,423

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

donors

projects for technology

projects for books

project for art supplies

R.N. Harris Elementary School has received support from 60 individuals from North Carolina and 24 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

R.N. Harris Elementary School

About this school

Equity Focus School

R.N. Harris Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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R.N. Harris Elementary School Demographics

R.N. Harris Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 2025

R.N. Harris Elementary School

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.