Ferguson-Florissant Teacher Fundraises for Class Library

Instead of using her own funds or awaiting district resources, a fifth-grade elementary teacher in the Ferguson-Florissant School District became proactive in getting a class library compiled.

Nicole Binion, a teacher at Airport Elementary in the district, used a donation website to raise the $300 needed to get books for the class library, and a Florissant business owner was a big supporter in that effort.

“My library was so skimpy,” she said. “I wanted books to help with their reading level and comprehension.”

After speaking to her class about the fundraising opportunity, the group started “Sailing the Waves into a Good Book” page on the Donors Choose website to raise the money for the library.

After a week and a half, the class had the funds needed to buy the books, Binion said.

Carl Reed, owner of the Carl Reed Agency of Horace Mann, and the Build-a-Bear Workshop Foundation made donations totaling close to $300 for books.

“I really like the school,” Reed said. “I think the project she put together was outstanding. I think those kids deserve a chance to have goo books.”

Reed also said that he believes in giving to a community that has given him and his family so much for part of the reason for his donation.

“The book donation will enable my students to improve their reading skills and ultimately improve their learning,” Binion wrote on the donation website. “In addition, I will be able to use the reading materials to enhance their lives. Again, thank you so much for what you have done to brighten my students' lives!”

Binion said the money purchased 75 books, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Judy Blume and other books. She also said that kids who weren’t interested in reading in the beginning of the year were the first ones to open books when they arrived.

“They know Ms. Binion is an avid reader, and I’m glad to pass it on,” she said.

Binion said that she could see herself using the site again in the future to establish a listening center for students, where they would be able to listen to books on tape.