Help Us Provide Aides for Overcrowded Classes at Mary W. Jackson Elementary

Our children at Mary W. Jackson Elementary in Altadena, California have been through more than most of us can imagine. In January 2025, the Eaton Fire devastated our community—many families lost their homes, and hundreds of children have been living in displacement and uncertainty for the past nine months, with ongoing trauma that they must continue to address. The start of this school year was meant to be a much‑needed fresh beginning, a chance to restore stability after so much loss.

Now, just a few weeks into the new year, The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) announced that it was removing one of our teachers—causing a painful ripple effect across grades, particularly kindergarten and 4th/5th grades. This sudden shift means larger class size and even more instability for children who have already endured the ongoing trauma of the fires, displacement, and, for the oldest ones, the lasting emotional impact of the pandemic.

Our kids need consistency and stability to feel safe right now and to know that their community values them and will fight for their wellbeing. So we're raising money for an aide to help support two classes.

Your support will mean the world to these children—and will show them, in a tangible way, that their community will always stand with them, no matter what.

✨ This GoFundMe is not meant for Jackson parents, but for the wider community. Please give what you can, share this campaign widely, and THANK YOU!

*Hi, I'm Stephanie and I created this page with other parents. My home and entire neighborhood burned in the fire along with so many. I'm out here trying to offer stability to the kids at Jackson at a time when most of us are displaced. If 1,320 people donate $50, we're done!

Social media blurb for sharing:

Mary W. Jackson Elementary families need urgent help!

After surviving the Eaton fire and months of (ongoing) displacement, our kids just lost a beloved teacher due to budget cuts—after the school year started.

Let’s show these kids their community stands with them.

Donate & share: [insert GoFundMe link]

#KeepOurTeacher #SupportMWJackson #AltadenaStrong