S. Fla. Teacher Fundraising In The Name Of Teaching Technology

MIAMI (CBS4) - A South Florida teacher wants to raise $70 million for her students, and she's going door to door in the name of teaching technology.

Desiree Sardo is helping raise millions of dollars to bring technology into the classroom, and it's more than a lesson in giving. It's a lesson is investing.

Sardo has spent weeks asking for donations from anyone and everyone she knows.

"You realize you have such a chance to make a different and that is why I do what I do," she said. "I love it."

Sardo is an activities director at Henry H. Filer Middle School. As an aspiring administrator, she knows the significance of technology in the class room.

"You have students in China who have iPads and are working all day on iPads and we barely have enough computers for each student in the school," she said.

That's why she is going from business to business asking for money to bring schools wireless technology.

"They want the kids to be able to use wireless devices to access podcasts, webinars… things that are available to us, but we just can't give it to them," she said.

But she is hoping with the E-rate Program it will be possible.

The goal is to raise $70 million by January 31st, and the government is matching funds 10 to 1, CBS4's Jorge Estevez said.

That means that the Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc. aims to raise $7 million. It's a much needed boost to help our children's compete globally.

"That's a great concept and definitely for what we need in terms of financing our technology we need in our schools," said Jesus Aviles, assistant principal of Henry H. Filer Elementary.

And it's something Sardo said she needs and is trying her best to obtain and pass along a very important lesson.

"At the end of the day my students see what I am doing and I do that for them and that is all that matters," she said.

It is great to have all the gadgets, but it is proven that technology will lead a student to want to learn more.

For more information, visit the Give Our Students The World Website.