Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

The fourth-grade teacher at A.J. Smith Elementary School in Union Springs was overcome with emotion while counting how much money her students had raised for the nonprofit . They raised $3,683.81 — over six times their goal of $600. Mull told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that as she sat in her classroom, she was extremely proud.

"They surpassed my expectations by so much," she said.

The fundraiser began after Mull and her students read an article from Scholastic magazine in January. It focused on the life of Flora, an elephant that was in a circus and featured in movies such as 1988's "Big Top Pee-wee" before it was eventually sent to the sanctuary, which currently cares for 12 elephants. 

The article explained that elephants living in captivity don't live as long, Mull said. She believes it helped her students think what about what the "right life" would be for the animals.

"Sometimes it's got to be more than, 'They're just here for our entertainment,'" she said. "They had to take on a different perspective."

People can "adopt" any of the elephants at the sanctuary through a $50 donation, so Mull and teacher assistant Lisa Winters decided to hold a read-a-thon to raise money to adopt all of them. The event, held on Valentine's Day, involved students wearing pajamas, reading books about elephants to each other and researching the sanctuary's animals through its website.

Before the holiday, students had about a month to collect donations and pledges from family, friends and community members with adult supervision. Mull said 37 of the school's fourth-graders participated, and the 19 who raised $100 or more received sanctuary T-shirts using some of the money.

One student, Ruari Francis-Biter, raised $600 — the original goal for the fundraiser — by herself. Noting that Ruari wants to work at the sanctuary when she grows up, Mull said the fourth-grader is usually shy and doesn't speak up often but still went out of her way to collect the donations.

"This cause was extra special to her," Mull said. "For her to be able to go and ask all of those community members and friends and family members, I was blown away."

Later in February, students wore their sanctuary T-shirts during a virtual field trip there from their classroom. It was then that Mull revealed to Katie Anest, the sanctuary's education coordinator, how much the classes raised. Anest's eyes ballooned to the size of saucers as her jaw plummeted before curling into a big smile, Mull said.

Mull, who has taught at the Union Springs Central School District for 16 years, said her students read a lot about elephants, including the 12 at the sanctuary. She was thrilled to see them absorb all the information and take action during the fundraiser.

"It kind of reminds you that teaching is all about getting them excited and engaged in something and wanting to find out more and see how they can change the world," she said.

"It's more than just teaching them about when to capitalize or how to spell. Anytime I feel like there's an opportunity to be meaningful, I try to jump at that," she continued. "As an (English language arts) teacher, any time you see a kid enjoying reading, you feel like you're doing something right."

Mull also learned something from the experience.

"Never underestimate kids on a mission," she said. "They might be young, but they can have such a giant impact."