Santa Clarita teachers have received funding for 70 different classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit organization that connects donors with public school teachers who need classroom materials.

Victoria Kubasek, from Mountain View Elementary School, received funding for the “Art Isn’t An Extra” project, which enables her students to use a variety of media – pastels, paints and papers – to enhance their art experience.

“Every new medium is a new chance for a student to branch out and explore his or her creativity,” Kubasek said.

“There are so many budding artists out there. We have a responsibility to help them discover their skills just as we help and guide the mathematicians and scientists. For all I know, the next Picasso may be sitting in my classroom right now.”

Diane Ortega, from Plum Canyon Elementary School, raised money for “Hands On Topographic Models.” At James Foster Elementary School, Julie Schoenberger received donations to fund “Give Fifth Graders the Fever to Read.”

Santa Clarita Horace Mann agent Reid Nicol has contributed to 39 projects and has been telling teachers he meets while working in local schools about DonorsChoose.org. Nationwide, Horace Mann has contributed $1.5 million to school projects through DonorsChoose.org since Feb. 2011.

About 25 public school teachers in Santa Clarita have received donations totaling $24,652 to fund 70 classroom projects benefiting about 3,000 students through DonorsChoose.org in the past 12 months.

Teachers can gain donations by posting classroom projects needing funding on the DonorsChoose.org Web site. Full-time public school teachers, nurses and guidance counselors can participate.

About Horace Mann

Horace Mann (Horace Mann Educators Corp. is the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on educators’ financial needs. Horace Mann provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions. “Founded by Educators for Educators”® in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. For more information about the company, visit www.horacemann.com.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support. To date, almost 160,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $71 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that have supported more than 5 million students.