Back about two years ago I came to the board with a DonorsChoose project that she was seeking assistance in funding and through the generosity of the board, the MMB was almost completely responsible for funding the classroom's first iPad. Two years later, and COUNTLESS hours of use later, the need has arisen for an additional iPad in her classroom. The kids just cannot get enough! Jessica gets such a positive response from the kids when they are able to put their hands on a technology device like the iPad and these are kids that generally speaking do not have the opportunity at home. I believe only 1 or 2 of her 24 children in her homeroom (and 5 or 6 of the 50 she teaches on a daily basis) have iPads or the like for their personal use at home. The project can be found here:
http://www.donorschoose.org/project/app ... g/1376864/
The aforementioned matching program is very easy to take advantage of: simply give to Jessica's classroom by October 5, 2014 and your donation will be doubled. Just enter the code INSPIRE on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100). Also, all donations are of course tax-deductible.
If any of you may be able to help fund this project please know the iPad you are helping purchase will not sit idle on a shelf, but rather be drained of it's battery life almost daily. Which, lets be honest, is a good thing when it means children are learning and doing.
As far as DonorsChoose.org and the organization they run...I'll echo the sentiments McLeansville mentioned in his posting a little while back. It is a great site with many K-12 project offerings, across all subject areas, and if you'd prefer to find another project or an additional project to give your resources towards I'm sure those folks would appreciate it greatly. Teachers need all the help we can give them in making sure the resources available to them match the desire in their hearts to educate.
I'll also follow McLeansville's lead in letting the MMB take "ownership" of the iPad if you can help the MMB fund the majority of the project. I'll make sure a big ol' Block A (white or black, per the board's preference

Thank you all for indulging me and hopefully with the MMB's assistance we can fund this iPad for a bunch of Catawba County 4th graders who really would appreciate it, and one exuberant 25-year old teacher and her "old" Mountaineer boyfriend who would be so grateful as well.