Kirtland Elementary teacher uses crowdfunding to get classroom supplies Published July 28, 2015 By Ryan Stark Nucleus writers KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Madison Romero, who teaches second grade at Kirtland Elementary School, tries to do as much as she can with limited resources. She is raising money online, crowdfunding, to buy iPads for her students, school supplies and books for her classroom. The iPad campaign ended successfully, raising a total of $752 from five donors. It's becoming more common for teachers to turn to crowdfunding, she said. "Over the past year, I've noticed more and more teachers using these various crowdfunding websites to receive things like extra school supplies, computers, iPads and science equipment," Romero said. "I thought, 'What's the harm in trying?'" The school's limited supply of iPads is in great demand, she said. "Even though the school has a few iPads, they don't have enough to go around," she said. "I want my students to use them for science lessons, for math and for reading. I needed a way to make sure my students could learn using this technology at any time." The school supplies campaign runs through Aug. 13 and has a goal of raising $300. Many of Romero's students come from low-income families and cannot afford some of the basic, required supplies, she said. Romero can't afford to provide all that is needed. "My students don't all come into the second grade reading at the same level, so I need a lot of books," she said. Romero's crowdfunding drive can be found at www.adoptaclassroom.org.