Milwaukee science teacher Rick Ferraro has a dream: a cleaner, greener planet fueled by his very own students.
A first-year instructor at the Hmong American Peace Academy, Rick works with other talented educators to provide rigorous education, character development, and Hmong cultural values that prepare students for college, university, and career.
In Rick’s science classes, this means studying mankind’s carbon footprint and ways we all can reduce it. But Rick doesn’t believe in just going by the books. Instead, he taught himself to manufacture alternative fuels and empowers his students to do the same.
Still, fuel isn’t fuel until makes something “go.” Something like . . . a big yellow school bus.
When it came to buses, Rick knew his class would need some outside help. So he approached Teachtown MKE, an initiative of the Greater Milwaukee Committee that welcomes new educators and fosters ongoing acts of gratitude for their service. This year, Teachtown launched Beyond The Books, a program inviting teachers like Rick to submit their biggest, brightest ideas for hands-on learning.
Nobody could argue that Rick’s ask wasn’t big. And, well, bright (yellow, that is). So Teachtown selected Rick’s alternatively-powered bus as this year’s Beyond the Books winner.
Now you have a chance to help fuel it.
What Rick Needs
Rick’s proposed bus will cost $17,000. These funds will cover:
If we are able to raise $37,000, that would add, in addition to the above, a custom graphics wrap to go over the bus.
And because we believe in the power of Milwaukee to rally around great teachers like Rick, we’re making our stretch goal a whopping $80,000. This amount would swap Rick’s used bus with a brand-new one. Imagine the years of clean, green service this bus could provide to Hmong American Peace Academy!
If we are able to raise $80,000, Those funds would cover:
By joining hands with Rick and his students, Teachtown and the citizens of Milwaukee have a chance to show how much we love our educators . . . and the future they’re building.
Check out the great perks you’ll receive for joining this initiative. And don’t forget to visit
TeachtownMKE.com to learn more about Beyond the Books and other educator-focused projects.
