Greetings All, my name is Shayla Wright and I am looking for funds to help me elevate my reach as a committed wife, mother and educator. I have been in public education for 20 years, actively teaching for 18 of those years. During this 20 year process I have been a pillar in the schools that I have worked in and a true servant of the community. I have organized numerous events that have served students and their families. As a colleague, I am trusted, creative, and an ear when you need someone to just listen to you. Through my dedication as an educator I have reached a point where I truly need time now to take care of myself (my health holistically), family (including being able to visit and assist with my Mother consistently), and replenish my whole self so that I can better serve my family and the community.

With the amount being requested, I will use $45,000 of it to pay for at least a year salary for myself where I will work on my health and further my education; I am looking to get my breathwork facilitator certification to help expand myself and be able to serve the community on another level. Also during this time, I plan on organizing with the local universities and the Colleges of Education to recruit and train aspiring educators to volunteer in classrooms to assist teachers. Teachers need trained helpers to close the achievement gap. The load of educating students currently is a heavy lift and our educators need more hands. The additional $10,000 will be used to fund wellness and educational workshops for teachers and families. Teacher and parent burnout are real, and they must be supported so that the child/ student has the best environment to grow. This portion of the money will be used to pay for yoga teachers, educational facilitators and healthy food to serve at the wellness gatherings and homework sessions I plan on organizing during this time.

Being a committed woman in her household and educator are two very demanding callings; that I am sincerely grateful to have been called to do. These funds collectively for the year will allow me to refill my cup so that my cup runneth over and I am able to serve my family and community from a more centered and grounded place.

When you give to this platform know that your donation will truly be used for good. In my 20 years of service, I have taught almost if not more than 1,000 students, I have served hundreds of families, and I have consistently taught from a place that saw the greatest in all of those that showed up in my classrooms. From organizing school events like career week, talent shows, co-chairing the multicultural committee, to orchestrating schoolwide art installations and community walks; I know that with the time that your donation will give me, I can facilitate development for my community beyond what can be done between the walls and limitations of the classroom and the system of institutionalized education. Education is one of the greatest tools you can give a student and anyone for that matter; support this educator in rejuvenating herself so that she can continue to educate and help shape some of our greatest minds of our future.

#SavePublicEducation

Below are some of the programs that I have assisted in organizing over the years.

Service in the community through commitment, excellence, and empathy:

-Career Week organizer

-Pinwheels For Peace schoolwide art installation

-Schoolwide talent show committee

-Black History Artist Reception

-FCAT Parent Meetings

-Science Project Parent Workshops

-ESE Parent Workshops- Summer Series

-Team Leader

-Multicultural Committee co-chair

-Tropicana Speech Contest chair

-Afterschool Successmaker Program

-Art Club sponsor- helped organize holiday food collection for local church

-Schoolwide Trunk or Treat co-chair

-5th grade SGA- led a clothing drive earthquake survivors in Haiti

***Every single year- building solid and authentic bonds with my students and their families