Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas on DonorsChoose

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I know how much those capsules mean. The letters from parents and friends are the pieces that matter most. When seniors open their capsules, they reach first for the parent letter. That letter, a quiet, honest testament of love and pride, means the world to them. Parents frequently tell me they are grateful for the chance to put into words how proud they are — a chance they might otherwise miss amid the whirlwind of \"senior stuff.\"\r\n\r\nTeaching for thirty years brings many joys and, sometimes, heartbreaking losses. I have lost several students over the years, and each loss cuts deeply. Last year, after a tragic accident, I was able to return a student's time capsule to his family. His mother cried when she read his assignments (letter to his future self and video of himself) and held his keepsakes. In that moment, I saw, more clearly than ever, how these capsules hold more than memories: they hold love, comfort, and a lasting connection for families and for the students we teach.\r\n\r\nThese time capsules are small containers of memory, yes — but their impact reaches far beyond the classroom. They preserve voices, celebrate growth, and offer comfort. 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Students learn so much more than just how to apply glaze when they have a part in making it. They learn to follow directions. They learn the importance of precision. They learn that chemicals react differently and serve different purposes depending on their proportions. Ultimately they learn that they are part of the process not just a consumer.\r\n\r\nOur students were surprised and happy to have our project funded as we had the chemicals but we needed more scales and containers. They have been busy making new glazes and testing them since receiving the supplies.","fullyFundedDate":1769177258761,"projectUrl":"project/glazing-magic-mix-it-up-with-chemistry/9873720/","projectTitle":"Glazing Magic: Mix it up with Chemistry","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hope Dodson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10292812_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y231&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759116866458","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10292812"},{"teacherId":9827869,"projectId":8923073,"letterContent":"On behalf of our engineering classes, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation of the 3D printer. This incredible tool allowed our students to explore more sophisticated design and build projects.\r\n\r\nWith the 3D printer, our students have been able to create and test practical solution that have greatly benefited our industrial arm pick and place project. 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About this school

Berkner High School is an urban public school in Richardson, Texas that is part of Richardson Independent School District. It serves 2,314 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 13.2:1. Its teachers have had 42 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 9 - 12

2,314 Students

175 Teachers

1600 E Spring Valley Rd

Richardson, TX 75081 View local requests

http://www.richardson.k12.tx.us/administration/sch

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Berkner High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Berkner High School Demographics

61%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

79%

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.

Berkner High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jun 12, 2026

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