Date: July 2025
School: Adams Elementary School
Wish Delivered: Classroom Furniture
Teacher Ellie Rivard says "As a first-year teacher, I’m working on building my classroom from the ground up. I want it to be a safe, welcoming space where students can learn, grow, and feel excited to come to school every day. Many of these items, like the rug, circle pillows, and round pouf, will help me create a cozy reading area where students can relax and enjoy books. The reading phone will let them hear themselves read, which helps build confidence and fluency. Things like the 5-drawer chest, plastic drawer containers, storage bins, wood crates, cubbies, and magazine holders will help keep the classroom organized. These will also give students a place to keep their things, helping them take responsibility for their materials. Items like clipboards, carpet dots, and stickers will help with classroom routines and management. The stickers and LifeSavers will be used as fun rewards to motivate and celebrate students' efforts and good behavior.The magnetic tiles will be used for hands-on play and learning, helping students build creativity and work together. Each of these items will help me create a space that’s fun, organized, and built for student success."
Wish Amount: $725
Date: July 2025
School: Adams Elementary
Wish Delivered: Art Supplies
Teacher Beatrice Gatica says "I am an educator at Adams Elementary in Rexburg. I have experience teaching both Kindergarten and first grade, and I will be focusing on Kindergarten for the upcoming school year.
On my wish list, I have special pencils designed specifically for kindergartners. These pencils will assist our students in learning the proper way to hold a pencil, which is crucial for developing their handwriting skills. Additionally, I am seeking sensory toys that can be utilized during centers or provide students with a much-needed break from their learning activities. My wish list also includes various supplies for art and educational purposes. In Kindergarten, we utilize a wide array of materials to make learning enjoyable and engaging!"
Wish Amount: $650
Date: July 2025
School: Riverbend Elementary
Wish Delivered: 3D Printer
Teacher Tiffanie McNeel says "As a third-grade teacher, I am constantly seeking ways to make learning more engaging and meaningful for my students. A 3D printer would bring hands-on, interactive learning to life across multiple subjects. For example, students could design and print animal models during our science units, or create geometric shapes in math to explore fractions and measurement in a tangible, memorable way. This type of creative learning fosters critical thinking and helps students better connect abstract concepts to the real world."
Wish Amount: $991
Date: July 2025
School: Rigby Middle School
Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies
Teacher Angilee Peck says "Our school totals around 960 students. This is the first year that elementary students from 3 schools are now combined to create the middle school population. This past year, our school district implemented a no cell-phone campus. That has resulted in a huge opportunity for face-to-face interactions and the increase in library use. Our library was not equipped for the influx of students. It is common to see students arrive in plenty of time before the bell, especially for those students needing a safe place as parents leave for work, as well as some arriving on early buses. With the new cell phone policy, the library is now becoming a popular spot to meet up with students. The grant will allow us to focus on creating a warm, learning enriched environment and to give room for my school budget to buy the books needed for our diverse student population."
Wish Amount: $1,740
Date: July 2025
School: Lena Whitmore Elementary School
Wish Delivered: Books and Sensory Supplies
Teacher Jillian Guier says "My students need a classroom that feels magical—colorful, calming, inviting. Many of them come in carrying stress, fear, or trauma, and I want my room to be the place that sparks their curiosity and helps them believe that school can be a joyful, welcoming escape. I want it to be a place where they feel peace, where they’re free to explore, create, grow, and be themselves. I currently buy snacks out of pocket to make sure no child is hungry, but that’s becoming harder to sustain. These wishlist items would directly support my students’ academic, emotional, and behavioral development—and help me create the kind of classroom that doesn’t just meet their needs, but inspires them to dream bigger."
Wish Amount: $2,159
Date: July 2025
School: St. Maries High Schools
Wish Delivered: Classroom Supplies
Teacher Chelcie Asbury says "I am asking the Idaho Lottery to help me transform my special education classroom into an environment that is conducive to providing instruction to a variety of high school learners with special needs. Since transferring to the high school several years ago, I have been teaching in what is called the “dungeon.” Running several groups in a small space has been very difficult. In fact, I had to move one of my groups to a Life Skills kitchen that can no longer be used for what it was intended for. Due to a recent turn of events, I will finally get a classroom, with windows even! Talk about exciting news!"
Wish Amount: $3,367
Date: June 2025
School: Mountain Home High School
Wish Delivered: Desks
Teacher Samantha McDonald says "
We currently use $20 folding camp tables as desks in many of our rooms. They are not sturdy enough to hold up to constant abuse. I would love a classroom set of actual tables designed for chairs to be brought (not attached) and sit one student only. This will allow students to work individually or collaboratively as needed. It will also provide students with a quality surface to work on that is not warping or defaced."
Wish Amount: $6,000
Date: June 2025
School: Greenacres Elementary
Wish Delivered: Sensory Supplies
Teacher Kristine Willard says "I will be teaching moderate to severe, non-verbal kindergarteners and 1st graders with Autism in the Fall. I plan on making a sensory room for these students who have high behavior/sensory needs. I also need the IPads for communication (there are free communication app's that I will install). This will be a new class and there is very little items in this class for the students. The Sensory area will be used daily depending on the sensory needs of the students (hence why I will need options for the students). Providing for the communication needs of the students in this classroom is also important. I will have 14 students, but I will be able to use low tech communication aids for some of the students, which is why I only want 5 IPads."
Wish Amount: $2,327
