Tyngsborough girl raises money to send Sandy Hook teacher on a trip

TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A fourth grader from Tyngsborough, Mass. decided to bypass her birthday gifts in order to raise funds for one of the teachers who risked her life in the Sandy Hook shooting.

Natalie Barros, a fourth grader at St. Michael's in Lowell, wants to be a teacher when she grows up. When Natalie heard a teacher from Sandy Hook's heroic tale, she knew she wanted to help.

Kaitlin Roig barricaded her first grade students in a bathroom when a gunman shot his way into the school on Dec. 14, 2012.

One month after the tragedy, 10-year-old Natalie decided she was not going to celebrate her birthday with presents. Instead, she wanted to give something special to the Connecticut teacher whose bravery made national headlines. Barros collected donations at her birthday party in hopes of sending Kaitlin and her fiance to Disney World.

"I set out to have Kaitlin have a smile on her face again," says Natalie. "I really wanted that to happen."

Kaitlin eventually learned of the child in Massachusetts who raised enough money to send her to Disney. The pair met over ice cream last week.

"Who she was in person was beyond what's the act she did," says Kaitlin. "It's just so clear that she is full of life and love, and happiness and it just radiates out of her."

Kaitlin says Natalie's goal is very similar to a goal she is trying to attain. She has created a non-profit, "Classes 4 Classes" that was created to encourage teachers to engage students in projects that help other classes.

To learn more about Kaitlin's organization: classes4classes.org

Cox Media Group