Hi Everyone,

First of all, I want to say that I hope this is the first and last time I have to do this, but I have to be honest about needing help from my community during this time.  

I am currently a special education teacher for students with moderate to severe disabilities at Overfelt High School on the East Side of San Jose.

A little background about myself: this high school is my alma mater and since 2015, I have consistently been giving back my time to support the students and my community. 

I started as a substitute for Overfelt and in 2018, had the privilege of subbing for my current students. To my dismay, I learned my students had been without a teacher for over a year and had a constant flow of substitutes who would switch out every 20 days. I couldn't believe that the students who needed the most consistency and support had the least. 

As a result, I decided to be the one to provide them with consistency and help them reach higher levels of learning by taking the offered position as their teacher with the contingency that I would get my teaching credential; I am currently in the last year of school for my credentials.   Due to my financial obligations being to my own education in order to serve my students, I am asking for help to fund the school supplies needed for my students. 

COVID-19 has shifted how we teach, forcing my students to quickly adapt to online learning despite their need for one-on-one support. My students learn very differently from others and need manipulatives and a variety of options to demonstrate what they are learning, particularly with the subjects I teach - basic math and science. Consequently, online teaching as the only learning format is not ideal for my students, especially since the majority of them need assistance, whether it's with online tools or in person. 

With the school year starting soon, my goal is to have both online and offline options but to do that I will need to provide my students with the supplies they need, and I do not want to ask their families, who come from my low-income communities, to purchase supplies for their students when I know they can use that money for food or other basic necessities during this time. 

I am asking for your help in hopes that you will choose to be a crucial part of my students' learning experience by donating money for their school supplies. COVID-19  has already taken away the social aspect of school, which my students really need. This is our chance as a community to make sure the educational aspect of school isn't taken away too. I know when I provide their supply packets they will be so happy and thankful, and I can already imagine how much their faces will light up. 

All the money will go towards the students' school supplies, replacement supplies (as we know, kids tend to run out of or lose things), and any supplies that we might need as we continue to discover what works best to teach students during this time. 

Finally, any money not used this semester will be used next semester for additional supplies or personal protective equipment (PPE) if we reopen and begin in-person attendance. And if you know me, you know I work hard to ensure I find the best deals to stretch every dollar and make the amount last as long as possible. 

I am asking you to find it in your heart to donate. I know for a fact that my students and I would appreciate the support SO MUCH!!! If you are unable to donate, please share and pass this along because I honestly want to be able to give my students what they need to be successful. 

Thank you in advance! I hope you have a great day. 

[The picture above is from Christmas in the Park. I had purchased a tree for my students to decorate.]