{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Nell Burks Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":21.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10355620,"projectId":10097458,"letterContent":"The Power of Creative Expression: Impact of Art & STEM Materials\r\nThe generous donation of these materials—from vibrant Crayola paints and markers to tactile Play-Doh—does far more than just stock a classroom cupboard. For K-5 students, these tools are the bridge between a story read aloud and a lesson deeply learned.\r\n\r\nBy providing high-quality supplies from trusted vendors like Blick, Lakeshore, and Amazon Business, donors are directly fueling the following impacts:\r\n\r\n1. Building Resilient Learners through Play-Doh STEM\r\nThe Play-Doh Bulk Pack is utilized for building challenges paired with books on growth mindset.\r\n\r\nThe Impact: As students mold and manipulate the clay to solve engineering problems, they learn that \"failing\" a design is just a first draft. It transforms abstract concepts like perseverance into a hands-on experience, helping young learners develop the grit needed for complex problem-solving.\r\n\r\n2. Deepening Literacy via Visual Arts\r\nUsing the Shuttle Art Watercolor Sets, Crayola Washable Paints, and All-Purpose Paintbrushes, students illustrate their comprehension of literature.\r\n\r\nThe Impact: Painting what they've learned from a book requires students to synthesize information and make choices about setting, character, and tone. This visual storytelling reinforces reading comprehension and memory retention far more effectively than a standard worksheet.\r\n\r\n3. Empowering Student Authors\r\nWith the Paint Trays, Crayons, and Markers, students aren't just consumers of stories; they become creators.\r\n\r\nThe Impact: Creating illustrations for their own original books gives students a sense of agency and pride. Having professional-grade materials—like the 10-well paint trays and broad-line markers—validates their work as \"real\" authors and illustrators, fostering a lifelong love for writing and the arts.\r\n\r\n4. Inclusive Creative Expression\r\nThe variety of tools—from Jumbo Paint Dabbers (perfect for younger K-1 motor skills) to fine Crayola Markers—ensures that every student, regardless of their developmental level, can express their ideas.\r\n\r\nThe Impact: These supplies remove barriers to communication. For students who may struggle to find the right words to describe a story's theme, a vibrant painting or a clay model provides a powerful alternative voice.\r\n\r\nWhen students come into the library and see these materials out for them to use they get excited and can't wait to begin creating.","fullyFundedDate":1774204297340,"projectUrl":"project/a-palette-of-stories-a-colorful-library/10097458/","projectTitle":"A Palette of Stories: A Colorful Library","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Robinson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10355620"},{"teacherId":6332583,"projectId":9984723,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your help in getting our classroom creativity moving with the supplies we enjoy daily. We have been busy learning about other cultures and creating art to celebrate them. \r\n\r\nWe have painted in every grade and have enjoyed using our artist smocks. They have protected the students clothes and make them feel more like official artists.\r\n\r\nWe have also created art through clay, papier-mâché, construction paper, and through drawing. Every bit that you have given to us has been used and appreciated, thank you so much for helping this become a reality in the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1767976255515,"projectUrl":"project/2025-26-cotton-bowl/9984723/","projectTitle":"2025-26 Cotton Bowl","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Forsyth","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6332583"},{"teacherId":10355620,"projectId":9907569,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your incredible generosity! Because of you, our classroom received six Blue-Bots, and they have completely transformed how our students interact with technology.\r\n\r\nSince the robots arrived, every student in 2nd through 4th grade has been introduced to them. It has been a joy to watch their faces light up as they realize they have the power to \"command\" a robot to move across the floor. Our Kindergarten and 1st-grade students are buzzing with excitement as they prepare to start their own coding journey soon!\r\n\r\nHow Technology Helps Us Learn\r\nWhile many people think of technology as just a screen for games, in our school, these Blue-Bots are teaching students computational thinking. Instead of just consuming media, our students are becoming creators. They are learning that coding is a language of logic. By physically pressing buttons on the Blue-Bots to navigate a path, they are developing spatial awareness and mathematical sequencing skills that are vital for their future.\r\n\r\nThe Most Exciting Part: Debugging\r\nThe most exciting moment for the students isn't actually when the robot does what it's told—it's when it doesn't. The kids have truly fallen in love with \"debugging.\" When a Blue-Bot takes a wrong turn, the room doesn't fill with frustration; it fills with problem-solving. They have learned to analyze their \"code,\" find the error, and try again. This resilience is a life skill that goes far beyond the computer lab.\r\n\r\nStudent Impact\r\nWe have seen a particular spark in our students who sometimes struggle with traditional paper-and-pencil tasks. One student, who often feels overwhelmed by reading assignments, became a natural leader during the Blue-Bot sessions. The tactile nature of the robots allowed him to show off his brilliant logical mind, and his confidence has soared as he helped his peers \"debug\" their sequences.\r\n\r\nYour support has given my students a \"hands-on\" gateway into the world of STEM. You haven't just given us robots; you've given us the tools to build the next generation of thinkers and innovators.","fullyFundedDate":1767122764507,"projectUrl":"project/little-learners-big-code-burks-blue-bo/9907569/","projectTitle":"Little Learners, Big Code: Burks Blue-Bots","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Robinson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10355620"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_15088","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":366,"numTeachers":35,"percentFrplEligible":81,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":68,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":78.6,"schoolId":15088,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Nell Burks Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Nell Burks Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/mckinney-ind-school-dist/nells-burks-elementary-school/15088"}
Join the 131 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Nell Burks Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in McKinney, Texas that is part of Mckinney Ind School Dist.
It serves 366 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.5:1.
Its teachers have had 55 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Share and help support Nell Burks Elementary School
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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
83%
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.
Nell Burks Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Apr 27, 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.
Nell Burks Elementary School
$27,609
raised using DonorsChoose
55
projects
funded
24
teachers
funded
131
donors
2
projects for
technology
4
projects for
books
4
projects
for
art supplies
Nell Burks Elementary School has received support from
103 individuals from Texas and
28 individuals out-of-state.
