Former Carson City Kindergarten Teacher Alyssa Herrera recently returned to Fremont Elementary to share copies of her children’s book, “One Inch at a Time.” The visit was part of Herrera’s “100 Classrooms, One Inch at a Time” campaign, which aims to inspire students through messages of perseverance, kindness, empathy and celebrating differences.
After her twins, Mack and Mila, were born with a rare neuromuscular disorder, Herrera stepped away from teaching to care for them. Their journey inspired her to write “One Inch at a Time,” which encourages readers to embrace perseverance and recognize the power of taking small steps.
Through her campaign, Herrera invited individuals and organizations to sponsor classroom sets of her book. Each $350 sponsorship provides 25 copies for a classroom, along with teacher resources designed to encourage conversations. The campaign connected Herrera with sponsors who helped bring the book into classrooms across the country.
At Fremont, the GOAL Foundation sponsored all kindergarten classrooms, and individual sponsors covered additional classrooms. Students received their own copies to read and share, giving Herrera an opportunity to return to a school community she once served while passing along a message inspired by her family’s journey.
Additionally, the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities purchased 700 copies of “One Inch at a Time” to get them into schools and facilities across Nevada. That included a copy for every K–2 classroom in Carson City School District elementary schools, and many schools also requested copies for their speech and special education programs. Out of the 100-classroom goal, 25 have been sponsored thus far.
But the book was only the beginning. Herrera also created Inch by Inch, and now has a draft of a second children’s book titled “Not Yet: a reminder of what happens before you can.” What started as late-night words on a screen became a way for Herrera to process the fear, grief and small glimmers of hope that came with her twins’ diagnosis.
As their world expanded to include therapy intensives, hospital stays and countless medical appointments, Inch by Inch grew into more than a personal story. It became a way to remind other families that they are not alone in the waiting and the wondering that often comes with caring for a medically complex child.
Through the Inch by Inch business, Herrera hopes to raise awareness, build community and help more children access the therapies and resources they need. Initiatives like limited releases, such as Crews for Inches and other future projects, aim to support families navigating similar journeys while reminding them that every bit of progress matters.
Community members who would like to support the campaign, whether by purchasing a single copy of the book or sponsoring an entire classroom, can visit: inchbyinchshop.myshopify.com.
