How a Teacher, Zoo Animals, and April Ancira Are Bringing Joy to Boerne Classrooms
Some of the sweetest community stories start small—like a stuffed animal in a first-grade classroom.
For the past six years, Van Raub Elementary teacher Krista Kimball has carried on a tradition that brings joy to students, supports teachers, and even helps real zoo animals. Each year, Krista organizes a program where teachers at two Boerne ISD campuses “adopt” a stuffed animal from the San Antonio Zoo’s Adopt-an-Animal program. Teachers purchase the zoo animal of their choice as a class pet, and local business leader April Ancira Thompson generously steps in to cover the adoption fees.
That means the money goes directly to support the zoo’s animals, and teachers get to bring a little piece of the wild into their classrooms.
For Krista’s students, the fun doesn’t stop in the classroom. The “class pets” go home with children for weekend adventures—complete with pictures and journal entries about their time together. It’s a hands-on way for kids to practice writing, storytelling, and responsibility, while also connecting with the world around them.
“The support of April Ancira allows us to do this each year and I just want to shout thank you to her from the rooftops! She’s always wanting to support teachers and schools—it just makes my heart happy with her love and compassion to serve our community,” Krista shared.
This year marked the 6th annual zoo animal pickup, and Krista’s family joined in the tradition of collecting the new “pets.” The lineup has included everything from capybaras to flamingos to tigers—each one inspiring imagination, learning, and joy.
If you’re a teacher, Krista encourages you to look into your local zoo to see if they have a similar program. It’s a beautiful way to connect your students to wildlife and give them a class pet experience that’s both fun and meaningful.
