My students amaze me every day. I teach at an alternative high school, and most of our students have been impacted by more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) than anyone can imagine. Some are homeless or couch-surfing, others have parents who are incarcerated or addicted, and still others deal with physical, emotional, or mental health issues on a daily basis. Some must live with all of these factors at once, and many are here because they are no longer welcome in traditional schools. Yet they keep trying.
For many of our students, school is the only safe place they know.
A high percentage of our students struggle with poverty, and many have been targeted in traditional settings because they are LGBTQ or trans. They all find a home here. We provide a "nest" where students can access food, clothing, toiletries, and household items for free, and we celebrate every minor victory, every baby step in the right direction. It's an incredible place to work!
My Project
We were fortunate enough to move into a newly-refurbished building last spring, but there wasn't sufficient funding for classroom bulletin boards. One of my walls is covered with wallpaper that will protect the wall and hide stapler or thumbtack holes, but the others are all drywall.
My social studies students love to create posters and other projects and see them displayed in our classroom, but doing so right now would damage the drywall and we want to keep our building beautiful as long as possible.
By affixing a bulletin board, my students can display their best work for all to see.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Gregg and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.