A fundraiser has been launched to commemorate the life and legacy of longtime Mountain Home Public Schools educator Glenda Small by installing a shaded outdoor area at Hackler Intermediate School. Organizers hope the project will create a lasting space that serves generations of students.
Small, who passed away two years ago after a 29-year career with the district, was remembered by her daughter, Julie Gonten, as someone passionate about the children and families she worked with. Gonten, working in partnership with the Mountain Home Education Foundation (MHEF), is spearheading the effort to raise the necessary funds for the playground shade.
“My mother believed in investing in children, families, and this community,” Gonten said. “This project ensures her legacy lives on by continuing to support what mattered most to her.”
Mollie Morgan, executive director of MHEF and a colleague of Small’s, emphasized how deeply Small’s influence was felt. “We knew Glenda well, and honoring her this way feels very natural,” Morgan said.
Community support has already begun pouring in. Local businesses and individuals have contributed, with one prominent effort led by Elizabeth Bockstahler of Ellefive Designs VIP. Bockstahler is donating proceeds from the sale of shirts designed in Small’s memory. The shirts feature themes such as Small’s “Always Be Kind” message, her fondness for the Green Bug, and the local Gray Bombers mascot.
T-shirt orders can be placed either at Terry Small’s Extreme Outdoors or via Ellefive Designs VIP’s Facebook page. Interested businesses or community members willing to contribute materials or labor for the project are encouraged to contact the Mountain Home Public Schools Administrative Office at 870-425-1201.
Monetary donations labeled “Hackler Playground Project” can be mailed or delivered to the administrative office or made online at the MHEF website. Gonten can be reached at 870-404-9954 for additional information or promotional flyers.
As plans for the shaded area progress, the project carries the hope of creating an enduring tribute to Small’s dedication to Mountain Home's children and families.