Help my amazing paraeducator get to work!

Hi! My name is Courtney and I am an elementary school teacher in Hartford, Connecticut. I am raising money for my amazing para educator.

Vatrece, or Ms. V as the students know her, has worked in my classroom for two years as a one-on-one for a student in my class.

But that doesn’t stop her from helping other students with their work or just providing that much needed love that these students so desperately need. Ms. V has earned the love and respect from everyone in this room and our school.

She wears many hats: nurse, therapist, cook, tutor, mother, a referee, a shoulder to cry on, counselor, and more.

One day I arrived early and saw Ms. V entering the building from the Uber outside; arms full of bags, a rolling cart, and THREE car seats, as well as two bouncy children running all over the place. She didn’t even look frazzled. However, I felt frazzled just watching so I instantly ran to help and that’s when I found out the difficult story of this amazing woman.

Having no car of her own, Ms. V has to Uber to work everyday with three very small children, dropping off the baby at daycare and then proceeding to work with the other two children (who attend our school). This costs over 100$ a day. Not only does she Uber to work, but so does her husband, who works even farther away so his Uber charge is even more. A day!!! Please tell me how she can possibly ever save up enough for anything when she’s consistently paying for this ridiculous service.

Now before you tell me to just give her a ride myself, well I tried. But this woman is so considerate and refuses to put anyone out, not wanting to be a burden to anybody.

Taking the city bus was also suggested but that is even more difficult to do with the three very small children.

In addition to this, Vatrece is dealing with a lot at home, medically and emotionally.

I’ve watched Vatrece struggle for many months since finding out her story, and it breaks my heart every day.

Vatrece is driven, taking online classes to further her education while waiting for Uber rides.

Vatrece is generous, gifting new sneakers to one of my students after noticing a hole in his pair, and selflessly keeping her charity to herself.

Vatrece is compassionate, connecting with each and every student on a completely different level, providing much needed “bear hugs” and motherly love.

Vatrece has done so much for me and my students - now it’s my turn to help her.

Please help me to help Vatrece purchase a car to make her travels to work a little more bearable.