Educator Grants now open. Apply Now.

Sacramento, CA

The Kindness Squad: Building a Culture of Compassion

Grant Amount

$5,000

Year Awarded

2025-2026

Project Coordinator

Elle Hassani

Grant Type

Individual

Local Association

Twin Rivers United Educators

Focus Area

Social Emotional Learning

About the Project

This project will launch a student-led Kindness Squad to build a culture of empathy, inclusion, and positive action in a fourth-grade classroom. Grounded in the belief that kindness is a powerful, intentional choice, the initiative will provide students with hands-on opportunities to practice compassion through peer mentorship, classroom activities, and community outreach. The goal is to help students recognize that kindness can shape not just their classroom, but their homes and communities as well. This project aims to inspire a lasting movement rooted in the belief that small acts of kindness can create meaningful change.

Meet the Project Coordinator

Elle Hassani

My name is Elle Hassani, and I am a fourth grade teacher at Northlake TK-8. At my current site I am part of Leadership and PBIS, lead our science and art nights, am a member of my local union, and spend my days helping our curious big hearted students grow. I look forward to creating a space for students to spread kindness to our school site and community, and to find joy in lifting others up. I was lucky enough to grow up around educators who modeled compassion, empathy, and the importance of caring for others. The Kindness Squad is my way of carrying that torch forward, giving our students the same gift I was given, the belief that even small acts of kindness can create meaningful change.

See more brilliant projects from California teachers.

See All IFT Grantees

Collectively funded by and designed for CTA's 300,000+ members.

Apply for a Grant
Become a Funder
Scroll to Top