Smoky Mountain Elementary School in Cosby, Tennessee on DonorsChoose

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I told him that there are some great people in this world and when he had the opportunity, pass on kindness when he could. Thank you donors for this teachable moment of kindness and your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1773174643048,"projectUrl":"project/earbuds-and-earphones-so-we-dont-bothe/10134387/","projectTitle":"Earbuds and Earphones- So We Don't Bother Our Neighbors","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8307883_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743185089154","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8307883"},{"teacherId":9037465,"projectId":10052505,"letterContent":"I can never thank you enough for supporting my classroom. It is because of generous people like you that I have extra materials to use in my classroom with my students. \r\nI will use these Storyworks Magazines during reading in my classroom to enhance students' reading and interests. It is so amazing that every student will get one and then get to take it home when we are finished. \r\nI truly believe reading class is one of the most fun times of the day in my classroom. We start each day with a story just to read for fun. They love to listen and read as they get to read the dialogue of a character. Then, we use fun stories that are in Storyworks magazines to build upon what we are learning and read stories that they are interested in. \r\nOnce again, thank you for supporting my classroom and giving to my students to help them be successful.","fullyFundedDate":1772853014697,"projectUrl":"project/interesting-reads-readers-intrigued/10052505/","projectTitle":"Interesting Reads, Readers Intrigued","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spurgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9037465_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683747777773","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9037465"},{"teacherId":9037465,"projectId":9651360,"letterContent":"You could never fully understand the impact you make on kids around the world by donating to their teachers for their classroom. Our classrooms are only provided with bare necessities from the government. Without generous donors like yourselves, our shelves would be bare and learning at a minimum. \r\nI think my students' favorite part of the day is when we sit down as a class to read a novel that has been provided by people like you. They love the stories and love to read along as a class. I have seen that be the stepping stone that has really helped students learn to read. I love for them to have their own copy so they can follow along as we read too. \r\nOnce again, thank you for everything you do to support teachers. We could never thank you enough.","fullyFundedDate":1766597667378,"projectUrl":"project/how-to-get-your-class-to-read/9651360/","projectTitle":"How to Get Your Class to Read","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spurgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9037465_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683747777773","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9037465"},{"teacherId":8307883,"projectId":9696990,"letterContent":"On behalf of the entire 6th-grade class, thank you so much for your generous donation of owl pellets and dissecting kits. Your contribution has provided our students with an incredible hands-on learning experience. Your donation allowed for our students to become real-life forensic scientists. They explored key concepts in biology and ecology.\r\n\r\nStudents gained a real-world understanding of the predator-prey relationship. By carefully dissecting the pellet, they were able to see the last meal of the owl and determine its position at the top of the food chain in its ecosystem. Students were able to practice essential scientific methods, including careful observation, data collection, and analysis. They used specialized charts to identify and classify the tiny bones (skulls, ribs, vertebrae) of the prey animals, strengthened their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This hands-on, memorable activity created enthusiasm for science and helped ensure these complex concepts are retained long after the lesson is over.","fullyFundedDate":1757593844745,"projectUrl":"project/smokys-ecology-forensic-scientists-a-s/9696990/","projectTitle":"Smoky's Ecology Forensic Scientists: a Study in Dissecting Owl Pellets","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8307883_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743185089154","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8307883"},{"teacherId":8307883,"projectId":9386311,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation, which has provided our students with a year-long subscription to Science World Scholastic Magazines. This is the first year our school has been able to offer this resource.\r\n\r\nThe arrival of each magazine is met with genuine excitement. These publications have helped to pique my students' interest in science by connecting classroom lessons to real-world discoveries and events. These magazines will make the world of science feel more accessible and exciting than ever before.\r\n\r\nYour support has not only enriched my curriculum but has also opened up a world of possibilities for my students. You are helping to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your commitment to our students' education. Your gift is truly making a difference.","fullyFundedDate":1755741229029,"projectUrl":"project/middle-school-science-world-wonder/9386311/","projectTitle":"Middle School Science World Wonder","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Phillips","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8307883_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1743185089154","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8307883"},{"teacherId":9037465,"projectId":9333204,"letterContent":"You could never understand the impact you make on classrooms, students, and teachers such as myself when you donate to a project. Because of generous supporters such as yourself I am able to give all of my students a book in their hands as we read along as a class. \r\nReading in my classroom is some of my students favorite time of day. We read a class novel together and every kid has a book in their hand. They get to follow along as others read. \r\nA lot of the skills we work on is our reading standards like POV and theme, but most of our novels are read simply for the love of reading. I think it's important to foster a love of reading and when kids love to read, they become better readers. \r\nOnce again, thank you for all you do. We appreciate it so much.","fullyFundedDate":1750894765942,"projectUrl":"project/an-adventure-like-no-other/9333204/","projectTitle":"An Adventure like no Other","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Spurgeon","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9037465_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1683747777773","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9037465"},{"teacherId":9037465,"projectId":9223456,"letterContent":"You may truly never know the impact you have on teachers, students, and communities. Classrooms are so very underfunded and without generous donors like yourself, our classrooms are just walls, desks, and chairs. You give teachers the ability to fill a classroom with love and learning. \r\nThese books will be used in my classroom just to encourage a love for reading. I like to read novels with them and I love for each child to have a book in hand so they can read along and see the words as we read. You have given us the ability to do that. \r\nSo once again, I say \"Thank you\" from the bottom of my heart. 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About this school

Smoky Mountain Elementary School is a rural public school in Cosby, Tennessee that is part of Cocke County School District. It serves 178 students in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.8:1. 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 Pre-K - 8

178 Students

12 Teachers

135 S Highway 32

Cosby, TN 37722 View local requests

http://www.cocke.k12.tn.us/

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Smoky Mountain Elementary School to request what their students need.

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Smoky Mountain Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Phillips

Ms. Spurgeon

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Smoky Mountain Elementary School Demographics

89%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

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.

Smoky Mountain Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Mar 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.