Kid-too-Kid Foundation, Inc.

Dear Teachers,

      We are here to assist you.  Teachers who work in districts where 80% of children receive free or reduced lunch can receive school and art supplies (fill out school supplies application).  Below are emails from a teacher and pictures of her students who received school supplies from KtK Foundation, Inc..  The school district where Ms. Lee teaches did not have the funds in the school budget for school and art supplies.  Ms. Lee, like many other teachers, are in need of art supplies and simple school materials for their classes to operate effectively.  Please take the time to send us an email and be sure to explain your class projects or needed materials.  We looking forward to working with you. 

                              William Taylor Reddick

Sheena Lee is KtK's first teacher in the KtK"Teacher Spotlight" that KtK sent shool and art supplies too. 

March 24, 2009

Good Afternoon!

         So two items of good news! One, I got the supplies that you sent today and I was able to use some of them right away for my second grade class! I have to admit I almost cried when I opened the box because it is truly amazing what you have been able to do. Second, the computer teacher finally emailed me the pictures that I took of one of my 4th grade classes... so they are attached. Also, I will be putting some letters in the mail from my fourth grade students because none of them were able to go online to post them. I hope all is well! And I will be in touch!

Sheena

Below are  pictures of Sheena's students whom received school and art supplies.  

Sent: Mar 16, 2009 9:20 AM

Good Morning,
 
          Well, William I have to say that my students are quite impressed with you and your foundation. They could not get over the fact that you are the same age as them and that you have been able to such wonderful things. When I read them the newspaper articles and showed them your picture they immediately asked when you were coming to visit. I know you are a very busy student but I thought that it might be a good idea if you were able to come and visit my school for a few days. I know its a long journey to Boston but I think if you met some of my students it would be very beneficial for you and them. You would get to see the students your helping, and you could see an urban, public school which, I have to say is a little different than good old Southampton Intermediate. They, in turn, would get to see a real, live role model. I say that because many of my students, unfortunately, don't have an really good example of someone their age, doing something so positive. I also thought it would be great if we could have a question and answer assembly with grades 3-8 because I am sure the rest of the school would be interested in hearing what you have to say. They have a ton of questions for you and plus you would get time off from school and you would get to see Boston (don't know if you have ever been!). I was thinking that we could do this in a monh or so, say the end of April-mid June. That way the weather will be nice and the students will need something exciting to look forward to at the end of the year. I have to get to class now, but see what you can arrange, talk to your parents and we'll see what happens!! I will get those pics to you by the end of the day!
 
Thanks
Sheena

March 7, 2009

My name is Sheena Lee,

       I am from the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, NY. My reservation, although struggling sometimes, did have the advantage of being located in one of the oldest and wealthiest areas of the country. Having grown up in a wealthy school district my whole life, I was never aware of just how lucky I was to have all that I did. Even if there were times when my Mother could not afford what I needed, there was always someone there to lend a hand, money, or supplies.
      Now that I have traveled to various places in the world, I have finally settled in Boston, Massachusetts. It is here that I attended Northeastern University and completed my undergraduate and graduate work in Spanish and the Art of Teaching. It is also here, that I have chosen to teach at the Maurice J. Tobin  K-8 School in one of the lowest socioeconomic neighborhoods of Boston- Roxbury. With the pleasure of seeing the glowing faces of my predominately Hispanic students, however, I have also had the discomfort of seeing the effects that socioeconomics has played in preparing these children for a better life. Unfortunately, for many of my students, they do not have the luxury of wealthy family members, wealthy teachers, or a wealthy school district and some pay the price for it. As a teacher and a good student myself, nothing is worse than seeing the look on a student's face when he or she cannot admit that they do not have a pencil to do their work. And nothing is worse than that!
Many times I have to tell them that I do not have one to give them. With the limited school supplies available and budget cuts mounting up, we have been instructed to take caution with our supplies as restocking this year and next may prove difficult. This is why I am writing you.
      The list that I will present is what I think I need as a Social Studies teacher who would like to do more with her students than read from the textbook. I would like to do projects and activities that are not only fun, but that will bring my students to a higher level of thinking and expose them to a world that they might never get to see.
      Thank you ahead of time for even thinking of me, my school, and my students and for (hopefully) supplying us with the materials we need to take that extra step.

P.S. My students are writing letters as well to let me in on what they think we need. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, they wanted the letters to be perfect so they asked for an extra day or two to finish them. I will post them ASAP!