Teacher: Kimberly Smith

School: Lone Star School

Town: Otis, CO

Region: Northeast

Grade Level: Special Education K-12

Project Title: Advocating for Special Needs

Category: Supporting Special Populations (English Language Learners, Special Needs Students, Gifted Education)

Amount Requested: $2,000

Principal: Mike Bowers

School Website: lonestarschool.net

Project Description:
Lone Star School, located in the rural community of Otis, CO, serves around 125 students, including 14 special education students and those testing as gifted and talented. In such a small school, finding passionate advocates for diverse learners can be challenging, making this project critical. This initiative seeks to provide resources, learning tools, and curriculum to support students with special needs as well as gifted learners. By addressing the unique needs of each student, we aim to foster a love of learning, particularly for those who may already feel self-conscious about needing extra help.

Project Proposal:
Funding this project will allow our special education and gifted students to access more workshops, tools, and learning materials that are otherwise unavailable in our rural setting. These additional resources will help expand our SPED classroom, providing students with the opportunity to grow and succeed in a supportive environment. Our goal is to make learning unique to each student's needs, helping them regain confidence in their abilities and find joy in education once more.

Budget Narrative:
The requested $2,000 will go toward providing essential resources, workshops, and learning tools that cater to both special education and gifted students, allowing them to thrive academically and emotionally in a small rural school setting.