The average teacher in lower-income schools spends $479 for her own school supplies. This is the equivalent of your employer telling you to bring your own office supplies. Let's solve this inequality together.
Leader
Elaine Mendoza
Location
3 Pooks Hill Road Bethesda, MD 20814
Hats Off Corporation was founded by Elaine Mercedes Mendoza--an Author and Speaker--that promotes diversity and inclusion. The goal of this Non-Profit is to close the inequality gap in public schools. As an avid traveler, Elaine observed how other countries do not discriminate against their kids based on economic status. For example, in Finland, they strive for equality in their education system. You do not have to move to a certain neighborhood for the "better schools" like in the United States. All of the kids end up with the same opportunities and quality education.
Although we have a long way to go to be like Finland, we can take baby steps to close the gap between the schools in higher-income neighborhoods and the "achievement schools" in lower-income communities. As the USA has suffered from never-ending budget cuts that have directly affected our public schools, both the teachers and the students have suffered the consequences. Isn't it time that we give them the dignity and respect they deserve? No teacher should have to purchase their own school supplies just like employees aren't expected to bring in their own office supplies to work at a corporation.
Teachers deserve better. Our children deserve to start their life on a more equitable playing field.
*Collect donations for school supplies for Just Elementary. School supplies will be ordered online and shipped to Just Elementary school directly.
Elaine Mercedes Mendoza has this "crazy" idea that we are all equal and deserving of the same opportunities. abundance, and life experiences regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, and so on. When Elaine worked for the public school system, she was surprised to see that some kids do not get all of the basic supplies that she had as a child. It is not fair that some schools get "more" while other kids get "less." While school supplies should not fall on the Teacher's wallet---it does for many teachers in endless classrooms across The United States. We are one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but we seem to ignore our public schools and our children to enrich other areas of our society. I strongly believe in a better world for ALL. I am taking baby steps to close the income gap in our public schools. It starts with ONE school and 16 teachers. It starts with a Teacher being able to provide her students with that ONE pencil.