{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Herrera Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":57.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5525579,"projectId":9444257,"letterContent":"We cannot thank you enough for your donation toward \"Smile! Reading is Fun!\" Since its arrival, we have enjoyed it every single day! We gather every morning to enjoy a read aloud and its beautiful colors put us in a happy mood instantly. \r\n In addition, we are able to use it when we read our books independently. It's soft, fluffy texture encourages us to read our books because it is so comfortable. \r\n Lastly, its light cheerful colors brighten our entire room! Upon entering, people notice it immediately and always appreciate the feel it gives our class.","fullyFundedDate":1758831367980,"projectUrl":"project/smile-reading-is-fun/9444257/","projectTitle":"Smile! Reading is Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patterson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5525579_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1531434012088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-spatterson"},{"teacherId":626578,"projectId":9444600,"letterContent":"I am beyond grateful for your generous support of our kindergarten classroom project! Because of you, we'll be able to transform our learning space into an engaging, hands-on environment where curiosity and care for the natural world come alive.\r\n\r\nWith the river rocks, potting soil, soil, and seeds you helped fund, my students have explored the world of pollinators, experiment with planting, and develop fine motor skills through meaningful, sensory rich activities. These materials have allowed us to connect science, art, and environmental stewardship in ways that are both joyful and developmentally appropriate.\r\n\r\nFor many of my kindergartners, this was their first chance to engage with nature based learning experiences. Your generosity ensured that my students were able observe, touch, plant, and discover the beauty of how living things work together. You've helped us create a space where learning feels like exploration and every small discovery sparks excitement.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and for helping us nurture future scientists, artists, and caretakers of our planet.","fullyFundedDate":1752671603411,"projectUrl":"project/planting-with-kindergartners/9444600/","projectTitle":"Planting With Kindergartners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Polo Oates","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp626578_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450543614372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-polo"},{"teacherId":626578,"projectId":9444648,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity in supporting my kindergarten classroom. Because of you, my little learners will be able to continue their day with the focus and energy they need to thrive. The organic, individually wrapped snacks you've helped provide will make such a difference—not only by nourishing students, but also by creating a sense of community during our structured \"brain break\" time.\r\n\r\nYour kindness ensures that no child has to worry about hunger or feel singled out. Instead, every student can participate fully in our activities, ready to learn, grow, and succeed. I am truly grateful for your support and for believing in the importance of giving children the foundation they deserve.","fullyFundedDate":1756567641125,"projectUrl":"project/the-very-hungry-kindergartners/9444648/","projectTitle":"The Very Hungry Kindergartners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Polo Oates","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp626578_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450543614372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-polo"},{"teacherId":9703122,"projectId":9048792,"letterContent":"When our students first saw the new clothing rack and toy organizer, they were thrilled—it gave them a \"backstage\" area for their costumes and props, which made our classroom feel even more like a theater. Instead of costumes being scattered around, the rack and organizer gave them a space to keep everything neat and accessible. The students immediately took ownership of setting it up and loved organizing their costumes by character and theme.\r\n\r\nOne memorable moment was when they used the organized costumes to put on an impromptu fashion show. With everything easy to find, they created characters on the spot, added props, and designed their own themed shows. The structure of having costumes visible and accessible actually transformed their play and acting—students were more intentional about building characters and embodying their roles, especially in preparation for their class performance.\r\n\r\nThese resources have given us the chance to integrate costume organization into our theater lessons. The next step is teaching students responsibility for their \"backstage space\"—rotating groups will act as costume managers, making sure everything is returned properly after use. This not only supports our performances but also helps students practice teamwork, organization, and respect for shared resources.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our classroom now has a true creative hub where imagination and responsibility meet.","fullyFundedDate":1741129167054,"projectUrl":"project/lets-get-organized/9048792/","projectTitle":"Let's Get Organized!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9703122"},{"teacherId":9703122,"projectId":9275206,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for making this project possible. Because of your generosity, I was able to give my students the tools to not only learn about the technical side of theater but to take full ownership of their performances. With the Samson 12-Channel Wireless Microphone System and the Depusheng DX6 Professional Mixer, my students were able to create something truly special during the very first year of our theater program.\r\n\r\nThey didn't just use the equipment—they ran their own shows. For four performances, they set up the microphones, mixer, and speakers entirely on their own and managed every sound cue without my help. To see them step into that responsibility and succeed filled me with so much pride. For students who had never even held a microphone before, hearing their voices amplified gave them confidence, and for others, learning to operate the sound board sparked a passion for theater tech they didn't know they had. Your gift gave them a chance to feel capable, independent, and creative in a way that no classroom lesson could have provided.\r\n\r\nThough I am now pursuing a graduate program and am no longer teaching, I am so happy to share that this equipment has been donated to another elementary theater teacher. That means your generosity will continue to touch even more students, giving them the same opportunities to learn, grow, and shine.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to give these young artists so much during our very first year. Their pride, confidence, and joy would not have been possible without you.","fullyFundedDate":1746785533152,"projectUrl":"project/beyond-the-spotlight-exploring-the-tech/9275206/","projectTitle":"Beyond the Spotlight: Exploring the Tech Side of Theater","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9703122"},{"teacherId":3286626,"projectId":9259288,"letterContent":"I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude for your generous contribution to our classroom project. Your support means the world to us and will have a profound impact on the learning experience of our students. The plants in our classroom are not only cleaning our air, they are creating a warming environment for my little learners! Your donation has not only provided these beautiful plants to our classroom but has also shown our students that their education is valued and supported by generous donors like yourself.\r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your incredible generosity. Your support has truly made a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1746840895600,"projectUrl":"project/live-plants-for-healthy-breathing/9259288/","projectTitle":"Live Plants For Healthy Breathing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jaeger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3286626_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1533159642357","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3286626"},{"teacherId":3286626,"projectId":9006754,"letterContent":"I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude for your generous contribution to our classroom project. Your support means the world to us and will have a profound impact on the learning experience of our students. They love their new centers and classroom signage! Your donation has not only provided essential resources to our classroom that I have been able to download from Teachers Pay Teachers but has also shown our students that their education is valued and supported by generous donors like yourself. \r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your incredible generosity. Your support has truly made a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1742972340931,"projectUrl":"project/the-gift-of-learning-through-teachers-pa/9006754/","projectTitle":"The Gift of Learning Through Teachers Pay Teachers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jaeger","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3286626_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1533159642357","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3286626"},{"teacherId":9703122,"projectId":8981824,"letterContent":"When our students first saw the new costumes and props, their eyes lit up with excitement. The materials gave them more room to play, imagine, and create. They immediately began building characters, designing their own ideas, and even organizing fashion shows with different themes. It was amazing to watch them collaborate and celebrate each other's creativity while stepping into all sorts of roles—from community helpers to fantastical characters they dreamed up themselves.\r\n\r\nThese resources have opened the door for us to start a new project where students will explore different careers in our community. We'll be combining role-play with storytelling—students will choose a role, create short skits about their character's day, and then share with the class. This will help them build confidence in speaking, teamwork skills, and creativity, all while learning about the important jobs people do in our community.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our students aren't just playing—they're imagining their futures.","fullyFundedDate":1742972340673,"projectUrl":"project/lights-camera-learn/8981824/","projectTitle":"Lights! Camera! Learn!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Maya","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9703122"},{"teacherId":626578,"projectId":9098673,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your support! Having whiteboards in our classroom has been truly amazing!\r\nThey've helped us display important information, our daily schedule, vocabulary with visuals, and anchor charts that support our daily learning. The ability to reference these materials throughout the day has made a big impact on how we engage with new content.\r\n With these tools, the sky really is the only limit to our learning and I can't thank you enough for helping me bring whiteboards into our kindergarten classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1742972341451,"projectUrl":"project/write-learn/9098673/","projectTitle":"Write & Learn","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Polo Oates","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp626578_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450543614372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-polo"},{"teacherId":626578,"projectId":9231577,"letterContent":"I was deeply touched to present each of my kindergarten students with their very own copy of What the Road Said which is a beautiful story that speaks to discovery, kindness, and following one's path. What made this gift even more special were the personalized notes I tucked inside each book, addressed to each of my students: These messages were more than just words, they were intentional reminders of each child's unique spirit and strengths.\r\nWriting them, I thought of what truly matters in teaching: the moments of laughter, curiosity, and courage each child brings to our classroom. \r\nWhen I handed out the books, the sparkle in their eyes reminded me of the incredible impact of personal connection. It wasn't just a story but it was a message from me to them: I see you. You matter. And your journey is worth celebrating.\r\nI am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to nourish these young hearts and minds. Thank you to everyone who made this possible! Your support helps make moments like these unforgettable for our little learners.","fullyFundedDate":1746840895733,"projectUrl":"project/what-the-road-said/9231577/","projectTitle":"What the Road Said...","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Polo Oates","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp626578_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1450543614372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-polo"},{"teacherId":5525579,"projectId":9198076,"letterContent":"THANK YOU so much for making \"Just the Basics\" a reality! Thanks to you, my first graders will come into an inviting classroom, knowing they belong and are welcomed from the beginning. Because of your generosity, each student will have a personal space, dedicated specifically to them. In addition to having a personalized space, they will have crayons, pencils, and erasers! Everything they will need to hit the ground running! The first day jitters will be at bay and the learning can begin because of AMAZING people like yourself! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!","fullyFundedDate":1742972341676,"projectUrl":"project/just-the-basics/9198076/","projectTitle":"Just the Basics","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Patterson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5525579_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1531434012088","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-spatterson"},{"teacherId":7464268,"projectId":9075145,"letterContent":"My 1st graders and I thank you for your generous donation of file folders for file folder games and my files to store work stations and resources. The students love all the colors I have used for the file folder games.\r\n\r\nThe file folder games have become a very big hit in my classroom. I made learning games for reading and math. We use the file folder games for students when they finish their mandatory work. These games have become a great incentive to finish their work.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity to my classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1738256029913,"projectUrl":"project/fantastic-file-folders-for-first-graders/9075145/","projectTitle":"Fantastic File Folders for First Graders!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lenhart","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7464268_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x180,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1598050041037","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7464268"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_98218","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":535,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":77,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":91,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"13.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":42.2,"schoolId":98218,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Herrera Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Herrera Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/el-paso-independent-school-district/herrera-elementary-school/98218"}