I teach second grade at Academy 360, a health and wellness school in Denver, Colorado.  Academy 360 is a public preK – 5th grade charter school located in an office building surrounded by asphalt in the Montbello neighborhood of Denver. Our mission is to develop students’ minds, bodies, and characters so they may lead healthy and fulfilling lives in school, college, and beyond. Our student population consists of 211 students, 70% of which qualify for free or reduced lunch. 28% are English Language Learners. 47% are Hispanic or Latinx, 29% are Black, and 18% are Caucasian, with the remaining 6% falling into a variety of categories.

Our mission is to develop students’ minds, bodies, and characters so they may lead healthy and fulfilling lives in school, college, and beyond.  70% of our student population qualifies for free and reduced lunch, and about 20% has faced trauma.  From social emotional learning to healthy eating, we truly strive to teach the whole child.  I am so excited to bring social justice lessons, discussions, and activities into our K-5 classrooms using the “Little Justice Leaders” kits.  Thanks to the L.I.F.T Teacher Grant, teachers and students have the materials they need to help learn and talk about difficult issues that affect our students on a daily basis.  Through books, activities, projects, and discussions, ‘The Little Justice Leaders” kits provide our students a creative outlet to grow as individuals and understand how to be active members of society and their community. The Little Justice Leaders kits will give teachers and students the materials they need to help learn and talk about difficult social issues that affect our students on a daily basis.  These kids are not only deserving but in need of this outlet to grow as individuals and understand how to be active members of society and their community.