In a gym filled with enthusiastic students with “thank you” signs, Google.org recently surprised Jacob Schmitt, a special education teacher at Leschi Elementary, with funding for his innovative work to launch a K-5 Special Education Inclusion program to help students improve fine motor skills, access social skills apps, and improve literacy and math skills.
The funding is through Google’s Impact Challenge: Disabilities, which is part of Google’s philanthropic efforts to expand opportunity and independence for people living with disabilities — including 6.4M special education students in the U.S. public education system.
“I am very overwhelmed,” said Schmitt a surprise assembly held at the school. “As a first year teacher, it’s been hard getting materials for a brand new classroom, though the PTA has been incredible in trying to help. I only had two small donations for my project on DonorsChoose so I thought it would not get funded. This is incredible.”
At the event, Google.org also announced it will flash-fund all special education projects in King County — a donation totaling over $75,000, reaching 90 teachers in King County.
“Google.org is proud to support DonorsChoose.org’s efforts to celebrate teachers working with special needs students,” said Jacquelline Fuller, Director of Google.org, Google’s philanthropic division. “We care deeply about education and the power of innovation to improve peoples’ lives, and that’s exactly the work in which these teachers are engaged. Our hats are off to them!”
“DonorsChoose.org is honored to be teaming up with Google to provide important support to teachers across the country,” said Hannah Peter, Partnership Manager at DonorsChoose.org. “Through this partnership, we’re helping teachers get everything from technology to hands-on science kits to ensure that all students have the tools they need to thrive.”
Launched in May of 2015, the Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities put $20 million in Google.org grants behind nonprofits using emerging technologies to increase independence for people living with disabilities.
Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need. At this nonprofit website, teachers at half of all the public schools in America have created project requests, and more than a million people have donated over $365 million to projects that inspire them. All told, 16 million students—most from low-income communities, and many in disaster-stricken areas—have received books, art supplies, field trips, technology, and other resources that they need to learn.
