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Mr. Rose,

Hello! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kristin Hawkins. I am a teacher, mother, wife, Christ-follower, local volunteer, and have a passion for learning about culture through travel.

Several years ago, I taught a course called “Global Issues” that focused on circumstances facing cultures across the world including cyclical poverty, hunger, and genocide. After the course concluded, many students began to express an interest in volunteerism — specifically in developing nations. Upon hearing such desires from my students, I happened to be contacted by a third-party agency who works to coordinate trips as learning opportunities.

For the next several months, I worked to make the dream my students had into a reality. We set up a school club, opened an account (to hold funds earned at car washes, clothing drives, and silent auctions), and most students put their noses to the grindstone working extra jobs to pay their travel fees.

At no point were district funds used to pay for travel expenses. To suggest so is slanderous. Trips were funded by families and generous donations.

I would be happy to answer any further questions you have about the trip (again), the awesome experience my students had, the fabulous job we did fundraising, the hours I poured into planning, how hard it was to leave my newborn son to follow through, the school we helped build, the Masai people who we befriended, or any other explanations you may need for accuracy.

Thank you.

KRISTIN HAWKINS

Sagle