Make a Mighty Difference: Ariel Glasman

Make a Mighty Difference is Lucas Elementary's annual fundraising campaign.  Special education teacher Ariel Glasman has shared some of the ways the funds raised through Make a Mighty Difference have impacted her and her students.

This will be my fifth year as a Lucas special education teacher and the PTO has been vital to our classroom's success. Each year, I have received funding directly from the PTO to contribute to classroom materials. I teach students with complex needs and I use this money for everything from jumbo crayons to straws. The best thing PTO gives us, though, is access to the community. We have had the opportunity to go to Camp Courageous each year, with PTO paying the steep bus bill and student attendance fees. This is a field trip the kids look forward to every year--and the staff and parents in my classroom love going, too! Indeed, one student, who does not use verbal speech to communicate, indicates her excitement to go to Camp Courageous each year by bringing over a picture of the camp to show the teachers in our room. Because of PTO, I can assure her that yes, we will go to Camp Courageous this year! The PTO's generosity extended to funding a second field trip. For the first time ever, our class was able to attend the Special Olympics in Cedar Rapids. The students learned new games and I was able to give parents information about Special Olympics. Thank you, PTO, for the opportunities you have given our K-4 classroom! 

– Ariel Glasman