Teacher Would 'Take A Penny' If Offered To Fund Classroom Library

ARLINGTON, VA — Destinee Freeman graduated from Howard University in May with a degree in elementary education. She's just about as new a teacher as you can get.

When students in Arlington Public Schools return to their classrooms for the start of the 2020-21 academic school year on Aug. 30, Freeman will be the new third grade teacher at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary.

Freeman actually began working as a substitute teacher at Drew in January. But, with students doing hybrid or remote learning last year due to the pandemic, it didn't feel like a typical teaching experience.

"I'm just really excited to be able to decorate my classroom and be hands-on with kids and not have to worry whether or not they're getting it, because I can see them," she said.

Freeman couldn't pin down when she first thought about becoming a teacher.

"I always said I wanted to be a teacher since I was in first grade," she said. "I guess it was probably just having really amazing teachers, up until that point in kindergarten and first grade, and wanting to be just like them. When I got older, it just stuck."

As Freeman began making plans for her first classroom, she thought about what resources would benefit her students the most.

"I work in a predominately Black and brown community where a lot of the families in that community are near or below the poverty line," she said. "The schools can only provide so much. Unfortunately, this isn't one of the things that's heavily funded by the government."

In order to take the pressure off her students' parents, many of whom came from other countries or don't have stable income, Freeman decided to launch a GoFundMe page to raise money to purchase classroom supplies, such as pencils, notebooks and crayons. She also wanted to establish a classroom library.

"Reading can take you places," Freeman said. "Reading is one of those things that can open your eyes to the world around you, even though you can physically explore it. I wanted to be able to provide them with a classroom library as well."

The goal of Freeman's GoFundMe campaign is to raise $2,000 to pay for books and supplies for her students. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, the campaign has raised $220 toward that goal.

"I hope people are able to donate," she said. "I know times are tough for a lot of families right now. I'd take a penny if you offered it."

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