Alief Center for Advanced Careers in Houston, Texas on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Alief Center for Advanced Careers","outOfStateSupporters":23.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10336056,"projectId":9865355,"letterContent":"These whiteboards help us meet school district requirements and keep students informed about the day's shop assignment. Posting the board in the shop saves students from walking back to the classroom to check instructions, schedules, and expectations, making practice time more efficient and focused.\r\n\r\nRight now, students are preparing for a welding competition across four skill levels. They use the board to track daily goals and progress, aiming to improve their technique and move up one or two levels before the event.","fullyFundedDate":1767191423914,"projectUrl":"project/white-board-for-class-objectives/9865355/","projectTitle":"White Board for Class Objectives","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Paulk","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10336056_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761833285598","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10336056"},{"teacherId":10228623,"projectId":9865838,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our portable band saw project. Because of your generosity, our students now have safe, modern equipment that directly enhances hands‑on learning, craftsmanship, and career readiness.\r\n\r\nHow we're using the new resource\r\nWe've integrated the portable band saw into our woodworking and STEM units. Students use it during guided shop rotations to cut stock for projects, to practice accurate measurement and layout, and to learn safe tool operation and material selection. For example, in a recent project students designed and built small wooden footstools: they sketched plans, calculated dimensions, cut the legs and supports with the band saw, and then sanded and assembled the pieces. The saw made it possible for each student to produce precise, repeatable cuts instead of relying on limited classroom time at a single fixed saw.\r\n\r\nA specific classroom moment\r\nOne memorable moment came when a student who normally avoids shop tasks confidently set up the cut for a curved leg, followed safety checks, and executed the cut under supervision. Seeing their focus and pride as the piece fit exactly as planned was wonderful — several classmates gathered to congratulate them. That success sparked peer teaching: more experienced students began coaching others on layout and safe handling, building a stronger collaborative culture.\r\n\r\nStudent reactions on first use\r\nWhen we introduced the band saw, students were excited and a little awed. They immediately noticed how much safer and more controllable the tool felt compared with older equipment. Many were eager to try it, and their excitement translated into responsibility; they listened carefully during safety demonstrations and completed safety-check checklists before taking turns. The band saw has increased engagement across the class — even students who are usually less interested in shop activities have signed up for extra practice time.\r\n\r\nNext steps for student learning\r\nOver the coming weeks we'll deepen students' skills with a scaffolded sequence:\r\n\r\nMastery drills: repetitive practice on common cuts (straight, miter, and simple curves) while documenting settings and outcomes.\r\nPrecision project: each student will design a small furniture piece requiring at least three different cut types and produce a cut plan that demonstrates measurement and waste minimization.\r\nIntegration with digital design: students will use simple CAD layouts to plan cuts, then transfer those measurements to full‑size material.\r\nSafety leadership: advanced students will rotate as safety monitors and peer instructors, building leadership and communication skills.\r\nThese steps prepare students for industry standards and give them portfolio pieces for future job or apprenticeship applications.\r\nYour gift has done more than buy a tool — it's given students practical skills, confidence, and a safer environment to explore making and engineering. We deeply appreciate your support","fullyFundedDate":1764723714613,"projectUrl":"project/cut-above-the-rest-tools-for-tomorrows/9865838/","projectTitle":"Cut Above the Rest: Tools for Tomorrow's Welders","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Zachary","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10228623_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1762474666039","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-zachary"},{"teacherId":5745310,"projectId":9719441,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, my students now have access to resources that are already making a meaningful difference in their daily learning experiences. The watches you helped provide are being used intentionally and consistently in our classroom, particularly during hands-on lessons and skill-based activities. In our Health Science classroom, time awareness and accuracy matter. Students are using the watches to practice monitoring vital signs, tracking pulse and respiration rates, timing procedures, and managing rotations during simulated clinical activities. One powerful moment that stands out was during a vital signs lab when students confidently relied on their own watches rather than waiting to borrow shared equipment. That independence not only improved accuracy, but it also boosted their confidence and professionalism. These watches have become more than tools; they are now an essential part of how students engage with real-world healthcare practices.\r\n\r\nWhen the students first received the watches, their reaction was one of genuine surprise and gratitude. Many expressed how thankful they were that someone cared enough about them and their education to invest in something that would directly support their learning. Several students shared that they had never owned a watch before, let alone one connected to their career pathway. There were smiles, thank-yous, and meaningful conversations about responsibility and preparation for the healthcare field. One student said, \"This makes me feel like I'm really preparing to be a professional.\" That moment was incredibly impactful. The students were very appreciative of the fact that I thought enough of them to help them secure these watches to assist them in their learning, and they were equally grateful to know that donors they may never meet believed in their potential. That sense of being seen and supported has carried into how seriously they approach their work and how proud they are to represent our classroom.\r\n\r\nBy contributing to this project, you were able to get a small glimpse into our classroom, and I am excited to share where we are headed next. These watches will continue to play a key role as students move deeper into clinical simulations, patient-care scenarios, and team-based rotations. Upcoming lessons include mock patient assessments, emergency response timing, and documentation practice, all of which require accurate time tracking and professional behavior. Students will also use the watches during their preparation for clinical rotations and certification-aligned skills, reinforcing habits they will need in real healthcare settings. Beyond the technical skills, these resources are helping students develop accountability, time management, and confidence, skills that extend far beyond the classroom. Your support has created lasting impact, not only by providing materials, but by reinforcing to students that their education, goals, and futures truly matter. Thank you for believing in my students and for helping us build a learning environment where they can thrive, grow, and see themselves as capable future professionals.\r\n\r\nWe sincerely thank you for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1758642952747,"projectUrl":"project/keeping-time-saving-lives-second-hand/9719441/","projectTitle":"Keeping Time, Saving Lives: Second-Hand Watches for Future Healthcare Professionals","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Harmon's Simulated Health Systems","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5745310_orig.jpg?crop=680,680,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758073771074","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sherita-harmon"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_122417","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":800,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":91,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":20,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":52,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"8 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":76.9,"schoolId":122417,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Alief Center for Advanced Careers on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Alief Center for Advanced Careers","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/alief-independent-school-district/alief-isd-center-for-advanced-careers/122417"}

About this school

Alief Center for Advanced Careers is a public school in Houston, Texas that is part of Alief Independent School District. It serves 800 students in grades 8 - 12. Its teachers have had 13 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 8 - 12

800 Students

# of teachers unavailable

12160 Richmond Ave

Houston, TX 77082 View local requests

https://www.aliefisd.net/o/mcac

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Alief Center for Advanced Careers to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Alief Center for Advanced Careers Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Harmon's Simulated Health Systems

Mr. Paulk

Mr. Zachary

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.

Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.

See how DonorsChoose works

Alief Center for Advanced Careers Demographics

91%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

80%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Alief Center for Advanced Careers Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jan 16, 2026

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.