Fund Teacher Summer Professional Development!

Hi! My name is Ms. Schneeman, and I am fundraising to help cover my summer professional development expenses. I am the sole Performing Arts teacher at a Title I (high-poverty) public 6-12 school in Washington, DC, and my school cannot cover the costs of outside professional development.

When the pandemic hit 2.5 years ago, my social media timelines were flooded with people praising teachers as "heroes." Many families tasked with educating their children from home recognized the intense burdens placed on educators in our country to cultivate our young people's mental, social, and academic wellbeing. However, as soon as there was a possibility of returning to in-person school, the narrative quickly shifted to a desire for "normalcy." For American public school teachers, returning to "normal" has meant unsafe schools, crowded classrooms, staffing shortages, insufficient funding, and high burnout rates. We have watched employers in other industries shift expectations and schedules for their employees while expectations for educators have returned to business as usual. When faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for innovation, education leaders have failed miserably. As a result, teachers are demoralized and quitting at higher rates than ever. A recent Gallup poll found that 52% of K-12 teachers are experiencing burnout, the highest rate of any profession in the country. In a 2021 RAND survey, teachers were almost three times as likely to report symptoms of depression than other adults.

These are two things I know to be true: We are in a crisis. We can and must do better by our teachers and, therefore, our students.

How does this connect to my GoFundMe? I have decided that I won't go "back to normal" in the school where I work. After taking a mid-pandemic sabbatical for my mental health while earning a degree in Applied Theatre, I have now stepped back into the classroom at a high-needs school in DC, Cardozo Education Campus. Cardozo is a historic educational institution in our nation's capital where Marvin Gaye was once a student, Dr. King gave a speech, and its marching band played at the 1980 Rose Bowl. In recent decades the school has struggled, and there is currently little to no arts programming. That's where I come in! I have taken on the role of Performing Arts teacher, and my goal is to create a sustainable, empowering, student-run theatre program from 6th through 12th grade.

To make revolutionary, lasting change at Cardozo, I believe that we have to do things differently. I have sought out several innovative professional development opportunities this summer to equip myself for these changes. As mentioned above, my school cannot provide funding for this, so I am paying out of pocket (which, back to my earlier point, should not be normal!). Here is a summary of the opportunities and associated costs:

1. Tech Theatre Summer Intensive for Educators, July 19-21 in La Jolla, CA

2. Theatre for Living Level 1 & 2 Training, August 6-19 in Vancouver, BC

Total Funds Requested: $6,000

If Goal is Surpassed: Any additional funds will be contributed directly to costs for our student productions this year (lighting rental, microphones, props, costumes, etc.).

My Promise to YOU: I will provide photos, receipts, and personalized thank-you letters to ALL donors. You have many philanthropic options and I want you to know that your contribution to my professional development will make an immediate and lasting impact for the children of our nation's capital.

Evidence of My Work: Please check out my YouTube page to see evidence of the transformational theatre work I have done with students in Washington, DC!