Supporting Safe Spaces for Students: Standing with the Ball-Chatham Community

March 10, 2026

When students feel safe and supported, they are better able to learn, grow and reach their full potential. That belief guides the work of the Horace Mann Educators Foundation and how we support educators and their communities.

As the Ball-Chatham community approaches the one-year anniversary of the tragic loss of five students in the YNOT Outdoors program, the Foundation sought to provide support with lasting impact. While nothing can change what this community experienced, we can invest in resources that strengthen students’ well-being each day.

In conversations with district leaders, we asked how we could offer meaningful, ongoing support. The answer was clear. Invest in sensory resources that help students manage emotions and navigate the school day with confidence.

Through a $7,700 grant, the Foundation funded three Snoezelen Multifinity Explorer Interactive Panels for the calming rooms in each elementary school. These interactive panels provide students with a place to pause, reset and return to class ready to learn.

“At any point in the day, students may experience emotional moments or simply need time to transition,” said Superintendent Becca Lamon. “The addition of these light panels gives them a space with calming music, colors and lights where they can regroup and return to class ready to learn.”

Approximately 2,000 students each year are expected to benefit from access to these supportive spaces, which are overseen by school counselors, social workers and special education staff.

This grant reflects the Horace Mann Educators Foundation’s mission to support educators as they help every student reach their full potential. By equipping schools with tools that strengthen social and emotional well-being, we are helping create learning environments where students feel supported today and in the years ahead.