Tell us the teacher you want to support

Stacy ONeal

Coming from a typical middle class family in rural Oklahoma, I never dreamed that there were children so close to me that didn't have socks to wear in the winter or a mattress to sleep on. Woodrow Wilson Elementary is a Title I school in rural Oklahoma with approx 98% free and reduced lunch. It is a school filled with children stuck in the cycle of generation poverty. My years at this school has opened my eyes to a new world. We struggle every year with providing a safe, nurturing environment, the school is the only stability they have. I have students in the fifth grade that are two, three or more grade levels behind. Some have NO parental support. They are concerned with where they are going to spend the night, are the police going to make a visit, or will they eat that evening. As a teacher it is my responsibility to not only teach these children but to give them the life skills they need to survive. In a time where all the focus is on test scores, I know that these kids need so much more than a satisfactory on a test. A donation to my class would help me with literacy centers, math manipulatives, science activities, and other hands on learning materials. The more active and engaged these students are, the more bonds they build with each other and learn to solve problems through team work. Most of these students have very little previous knowledge when it comes to solving conflicts. If they can learn to work together, learn from each other, teach each other, and value opinions of others then I feel I have helped them more than a test score ever will. Thank you for your consideration.