Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1158290
O V E R T H E S U M M E R , Ashley Wallace, a seventh- grade humanities and theater arts teacher at United for Success Acad- emy in Oakland, gave her classroom an "extreme makeover." While Wallace is entering her 11th year of teaching, she's only been at her current school for four years. She inherited what was formerly a music room (complete with soundproof- ing panels on the upper walls), which had been f looded weeks before school started her first year there due to a fire. e room also had holes in the walls. B u t Wa l l a c e , w h o a l s o r u n s t h e school's performing arts program, says she loved the room from the start. "It's connected to the auditorium and has easy access for my drama class and performances," she wrote on Instagram. "It's located next to the office, across from the garden space, and has a lovely skylight that helps with the lack of windows." After more than $6,000 in funding came through for Ashley Wallace's classroom makeover Close-up of the library, "the favorite place in the room." w e l c o m e h o m e her three Donors Choose projects, Wallace chose a rainbow theme and set about creating a beautiful, mod- ern classroom with f lexible seating and a homey vibe (see photos directly above). e Oakland Education Asso- ciation member was deliberate about every nook and cranny, including the walls, and paid particular attention to the library area, along with framed artwork and photos. She recorded the journey, including the big reveal, on Instagram. "[I wanted] a classroom full of diversity in which my students could see their faces and beliefs on the walls and in the personal touches, with flexible seating options" — technically only 20 chairs, but with some 15 "[Four years ago] I walked in and saw disaster. Since I wasn't planning on going anywhere, I knew I needed to make it home." —Ashley Wallace, Oakland Education Association BEFORE: 34 cta.org