This summer, Fern Elementary School teacher Jessica Canyon will take six low-income fifth-graders — some of whom have never been to the mainland — to Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia.

With hundreds of other kids from around the world, they’ll tour historic landmarks, meet the Iraqi ambassador to the United Nations and former and current members of Congress, attend an embassy dinner and participate in daily gatherings to hone their leadership skills.

It will be the trip of a lifetime with the aim of molding kids who come from disadvantaged homes, most of whom live in public housing, into tomorrow’s leaders.

Canyon has a big dilemma, though.

Her students’ parents can’t afford the $3,600 cost of airfare and participation in the 10-day People to People leadership program.

The kids are fundraising like crazy, and Canyon is searching for deals on travel.

With the January deadline for an initial payment of $2,100 per student nearing, she’s also turning to the community for help.

In a letter she plans to send to business and government leaders, Canyon wrote, "Imagine not having a quiet place to study or read a book and not having enough money to eat a decent meal.

"This is normal life for the students I teach and they have no control over their circumstances, yet I have seen some of them rise up to display enormous potential in my classroom."

Canyon said she knew when she nominated the students that coming up with the money would be tough, but is optimistic that the community will come through for her kids.

Canyon, who has been teaching at Fern Elementary for three years, said she jumped at the chance to participate in the program after learning about it earlier this year.

The People to People program is open to students from all backgrounds and income levels, and is designed to foster cultural awareness, community service and leadership.

Canyon nominated the six students based on their leadership skills, school attendance, achievement and their relationships with peers and adults.