South Side math students look to overcome financial hurdles and partake in Disney Imagination Campus
But while excitement for the trip is high, funds to make sure the opportunity happens are low.
LaTonya Brown has been teaching math at Fort Dearborn Elementary School since 1993, where she's always aimed to make the subject exciting and challenging for her students.
'Taking the mystery out of it—a lot of students are intimidated by taking math class and its scary so, I try to make it fun,' Mrs. Brown said.
Fort Dearborn eighth grader Alicia Anderson said Mrs. Brown is a compassionate educator who has encouraged her to live out her dreams, while also helping her master the art of algebra.
'She teaches us about high school and about life outside of Chicago and about life outside of Fort Dearborn,' Anderson said.
It's success in helping engage students in difficult concepts in the classroom that has brought opportunities like this one to Mrs. Brown and students like Anderson, who are invited to travel to Disney World in Orlando, Florida at the end of May to participate in the Disney Imagination Campus.
'It's not just having fun at Disney, but we're also learning,' Anderson said. 'We're doing research. We're seeing how to put everyday learning into real life at Disney and how they do it.'
This will mark Mrs. Brown's fourth time taking a class to Disney's Imagination Campus, but this go around, she's up against a financial challenge. She said the class needs to raise an additional $20,000 by April 17th to make the trip happen.
'My parents are trying to raise money, but its $1,200 per student which will include everything,' Mrs. Brown said.
While family of staff and students continue to do their part raising money for the trip, Fort Dearborn Principal Kimberly Porter is taking the route of looking for community partners to help make the trip a reality.
'What we're hoping for—not just sponsorship for this—but we'd love to have some lifetime partners in our school moving forward,' Mrs. Porter said.
The Disney Imagination Campus is designed to allow students to enjoy the magic of Disney World, while interactively learning about the science, technology, engineering and math behind the attractions of the park.
'We don't have discipline issues. The kids come to school. Attendance is great. Scores are great,' Mrs. Brown said. 'They are performing at and above the level they should be so, I think they should be rewarded with something non traditional. It's what CPS pushes—learning beyond the classroom.'
With high school on the horizon, Anderson is hopeful that she and her classmates can make lasting memories at Disney World, while also being inspired to follow their dreams.
'It will give my classmates and I a chance to venture outside of Chicago because, for some of my classmates, this is an opportunity of a lifetime,' Anderson said. 'They might not ever be able to do it again.'
If you or someone you know would like to help pay for Mrs. Brown's math students' trip to the Disney Imagination Campus, donations can be made online on the school's website.
Here's how to donate:
Go to the school's website by clicking here.
Scroll down and click on 'E-Pay,' then click on 'One-Time Payment.'
Scroll down and click on the 'donations' tab. Make sure to include student information if donating for a specific student, but if you are just making a general donation, make sure to fill in the required information sections with 'NA' or 'blank.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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