South Side Math Students Look to Overcome Financial Hurdles and Partake in Disney Imagination Campus
Taking the Mystery Out of Math and Making it Fun
LaTonya Brown has been teaching math at Fort Dearborn Elementary School since 1993, where she’s always aimed to make the subject exciting and challenging for her students. “Taking the mystery out of it—a lot of students are intimidated by taking math class and it’s scary so, I try to make it fun,” Mrs. Brown said.
Fort Dearborn eighth grader Alicia Anderson said Mrs. Brown is a compassionate educator who has encouraged her to live out her dreams, while also helping her master the art of algebra. “She teaches us about high school and about life outside of Chicago and about life outside of Fort Dearborn,” Anderson said.
It’s success in helping engage students in difficult concepts in the classroom that has brought opportunities like this one to Mrs. Brown and students like Anderson, who are invited to travel to Disney World in Orlando, Florida at the end of May to participate in the Disney Imagination Campus.
“It’s not just having fun at Disney, but we’re also learning,” Anderson said. “We’re doing research. We’re seeing how to put everyday learning into real life at Disney and how they do it.”
The Challenge of Funding
This will mark Mrs. Brown’s fourth time taking a class to Disney’s Imagination Campus, but this go around, she’s up against a financial challenge. She said the class needs to raise an additional $20,000 by April 17th to make the trip happen. “My parents are trying to raise money, but it’s $1,200 per student which will include everything,” Mrs. Brown said.
While family of staff and students continue to do their part raising money for the trip, Fort Dearborn Principal Kimberly Porter is taking the route of looking for community partners to help make the trip a reality. “What we’re hoping for—not just sponsorship for this—but we’d love to have some lifetime partners in our school moving forward,” Mrs. Porter said.
How to Help
If you or someone you know would like to help pay for Mrs. Brown’s math students’ trip to the Disney Imagination Campus, donations can be made online on the school’s website. Here’s how to donate:
- Go to the school’s website by clicking here.
- Scroll down and click on “E-Pay,” then click on “One-Time Payment.”
- Scroll down and click on the “donations” tab. Make sure to include student information if donating for a specific student, but if you are just making a general donation, make sure to fill in the required information sections with “NA” or “blank.”
Conclusion
The Disney Imagination Campus is designed to allow students to enjoy the magic of Disney World, while interactively learning about the science, technology, engineering, and math behind the attractions of the park. With high school on the horizon, Anderson is hopeful that she and her classmates can make lasting memories at Disney World, while also being inspired to follow their dreams.
FAQs
* Q: What is the goal for fundraising for the Disney Imagination Campus trip?
A: The class needs to raise an additional $20,000 by April 17th to make the trip happen.
* Q: How can I donate to help fund the trip?
A: Donations can be made online on the school’s website by following the instructions above.
* Q: What is the Disney Imagination Campus?
A: The Disney Imagination Campus is a program designed to allow students to enjoy the magic of Disney World, while interactively learning about the science, technology, engineering, and math behind the attractions of the park.
