KISSIMMEE, Fla. — At Chestnut Elementary School for Science and Engineering, Laresa Tapia is teaching a teacher. 


What You Need To Know

  • Laresa Tapia created Polyblox, which are spelling totems

  • She has donated them to dozens of students

  • Tapia also teaches teachers on how to use them

  • Discover more Everyday Heroes here

“You can spell over 150,000 words,” the inventor of Polyblox says. 

Polybox are multilingual ABC spelling totems and are nationally certified in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), according to the company’s website.

Tapia recently donated about $20,000 worth of her Polyblox to dozens of elementary students in Osceola County.

“It is a learning resource that is certified in socio-emotional learning and literacy learning,” Tapia explains.

Chestnut Elementary recently tried to raise money on social media for reading and learning resources. Tapia instantly thought she could help.

“To me, it is all about tomorrow," Tapia says. "It is about planting the seeds for a kinder world. For me, it is all about joyful inclusions.”

Donating the Polyblox is just half of what she donates. Her personal time teaching teachers how to use and educate kids with the Polyblox is also something she gives away.

“When I teach a teacher and they teach their students, not everyone can see, not everyone can hear, but in my heart I feel I have contributed," Tapia says. "I have contributed to a world where people are not afraid of our human differences.”

Since Tapia created Polyblox, she says she has donated sets to almost 50 schools across Central Florida. She doesn’t plan on stopping with Chestnut Elementary School.

“I think I am just a helper," Tapia says with a smile. "I like being a helper.”

If you would like to help Tapia continue to donate Polyblox to schools across Central Florida, you can reach out to her directly at laresa@me.com.