This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
This year, 180 fifth and sixth grade students will join a new KIPP campus dedicated to empowering students with the character and academic skills necessary to persist through college, pursue their passions with confidence, and lead for a more just Chicago. Our students come from the Austin neighborhood on the west side of Chicago. Our student population is 100% African-American, 97% free/reduced lunch, and 15% students with special needs. They are curious, energetic, and invested middle school students thirsty to learn and discover new opportunities!
My Project
This year, I am helping to found a new middle school on the west side of Chicago for the KIPP network with a team of the most talented educators in Chicago. Our students will participate in a rigorous novel-study curriculum. This curriculum has been developed and improved over the last several years and has led to top student growth results in the KIPP network nationally.
In order to maximize their learning even more, my team hopes for each student to receive their own book for each of the four novel studies they will participate in this year.
Having their own copies of Joey Pigza, Jesse Owens: Gold Medal Hero, Charlie and and Chocolate Factory, and The Skin I'm In will create a new kind of investment and pride in their text, allow them to develop note-taking and annotation skills necessary in high school and college, and to complete assignments outside of the classroom.
Your donation will help our new school provide students the materials most fundamental to learning. Thank you for your donation!
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Valerio and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.