10 teachers in LR get project funds

Ten Little Rock School District teachers learned last week that the 15 classroom projects they posted on the DonorsChoose.org crowdfunding website are among more than 35,000 projects to be funded by a $29 million donation from Ripple, a California virtual currency company.

The Little Rock district projects total $17,485, said Pamela Smith, a district spokesman.

The recipient teachers and their schools are Ruthie Walls, Central High; Renada Burt, Gibbs Magnet Elementary; Karen Day, King Elementary; Kimeka Jacob-Williams, Mabelvale Middle; Jacqueline Scott, Horace Mann Magnet Middle; Krystal Duckery, McClellan High; Karyna Johnson, Otter Creek Elementary; Kristen Giggleman, Pulaski Heights Middle; Kelly Baugher, Romine Elementary; and Teresa Gilzow, Watson Elementary.

“I am so grateful,” said Walls, a Central High social studies teacher. “I was surprised and elated when I found out we would be among those selected. Thank you, Donorschoose. org and thank you, Ripple!”

Walls will use the funding to assist with a student field trip to the National Civil Rights and Stax museums in Memphis to enhance their studies regarding the civil-rights movement’s historical significance, and the role music played during that period.

According to founder Charles Best, this is the first time in the 18-year history of DonorsChoose.org that a donor has funded every project on the site. The organization is celebrating the funding using the hashtag #BestSchoolDay. As new projects appear on DonorsChoose.org, donors can search for projects by district by visiting www.donorschoose.org.