Gresham elementary music teacher launches fundraiser to ensure students are heard

To celebrate teacher appreciation week, a local elementary music instructor is leading a fundraiser to secure invaluable equipment to support her students.

Katie Robinson, first-year music teacher at Hall Elementary School who has taught music for 15 years in the Gresham-Barlow, Centennial, Reynolds and Portland School Districts, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to purchase risers — tiered platforms that allow all students to be seen and heard clearly during performances.

“Music class plays a vital role in developing our students' creativity, discipline, and collaborative skills,” Robinson said. “However our current classroom setup makes it challenging for all students to actively participate and perform during music lessons.”

Without the equipment, too often talented youngsters are hidden away behind their peers, making for muffled sounds and disappointed parents who don’t get that unobstructed view of their little performers.

Thus the fundraising campaign with concert season looming.

“(Any) donation would have a profound impact on our music program and the overall educational experience of our students,” Robinson said. “It would be an investment in the arts and the development of amazing students.”

The risers would enhance the school’s music program, from performances to classroom singing. They not only improve visibility and acoustics, but instill a sense of pride and professionalism in the young performers.

The cost to purchase the risers is $4,772, plus $700 shipping and fees from GoFundMe. Because the public school has such limited resources, Robinson is hoping for support from the community to make it happen.

Learn more and donate at tinyurl.com/bdefnfcy.