{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Career Institute South","outOfStateSupporters":27.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2059067,"projectId":10231134,"letterContent":"Your generosity is helping my students build valuable workplace skills through hands-on art activities, cooperative games, and career exploration. Materials such as diamond painting, beads, puzzles, and board games provide opportunities to practice communication, teamwork, patience, problem-solving, and attention to detail.\r\n\r\nOne classroom moment that stood out was during a group puzzle activity, students organized pieces, shared tasks, and encouraged one another when challenges arose. They practiced communication, teamwork, patience, and problem-solving—essential skills for workplace success.. This experience connected our classroom learning to the skills employers value. When students first saw the materials, [describe their reaction or include a student's comment]. Having access to these resources gives students more ways to participate, express their creativity, and explore their strengths.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to connect these activities to career exploration and community service. Students will create projects representing their career interests, photograph their work, and explain how the skills they practiced relate to future jobs. They will also reflect on their contributions and identify a skill they want to strengthen. Thank you for supporting meaningful learning experiences that help my students prepare for their futures!","fullyFundedDate":1787841765267,"projectUrl":"project/building-creative-futures-stem-art-an/10231134/","projectTitle":"Building Creative Futures: STEM, Art, and Career Exploration Through Design","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McNeil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2059067_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1772743049136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-vmcneil"},{"teacherId":2059067,"projectId":10480245,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting Fueling Focus and Celebrating Success: Snacks and Rewards for Students! Your generosity provides snacks and bottled water to help students feel comfortable and ready to learn. Treats also help us celebrate their effort, teamwork, and accomplishments.\r\n\r\nStudents were able to enjoy a snack while working on [their assignment or project]. This moment showed how meeting a basic need can support participation and learning. When students first saw the supplies, they were so excited and thankful to be able to partake in the yummy snacks.\r\n\r\nNext, students will continue exploring careers and practicing communication, teamwork, and problem-solving through collaborative projects. Snacks will remain available when students are hungry, while occasional rewards will recognize their progress. Thank you for helping create a caring classroom where students feel supported and their achievements are celebrated!","fullyFundedDate":1787194418078,"projectUrl":"project/fueling-focus-and-celebrating-success-s/10480245/","projectTitle":"Fueling Focus and Celebrating Success: Snacks and Rewards for Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McNeil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2059067_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1772743049136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-vmcneil"},{"teacherId":9613926,"projectId":10436841,"letterContent":"My students are enjoying the snacks provided through this project. Having access to snacks helps meet their needs so they can focus on their assignments, complete their work, and remain engaged in classroom activities. These resources help create a supportive learning environment where students can concentrate on their tasks and work toward academic success. \r\nThe students were excited and grateful to receive the snacks. They especially appreciated having a variety of options to choose from. Their joy and appreciation were truly heartwarming. Saying they were grateful is an understatement! These snacks provide more than just food; they show students that they are cared for and supported. By helping ease the distraction of hunger, these resources allow students to focus more on learning. \r\nOur next step is to incorporate positive affirmations into our classroom routines to encourage students to continue working hard and doing their best. We want them to recognize their strengths, celebrate their progress, and build confidence in their abilities. By combining these affirmations with the continued support of classroom resources, we hope to create an environment where every student feels valued, motivated, and encouraged to succeed. I am truly thankful to the donors who made this possible for my students.","fullyFundedDate":1786638842793,"projectUrl":"project/economic-challenges-in-education/10436841/","projectTitle":"Economic Challenges in Education","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Thomas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9613926_orig.jpg?crop=1884,1884,x0,y942&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754599779586","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9613926"},{"teacherId":2059067,"projectId":10097640,"letterContent":"Thank you for bringing cooperative games, hands-on art materials, college and career preparation resources, snacks, and rewards into our classroom. When my students first saw the materials, they were excited and eager to explore them. Their reactions showed how meaningful it was to receive resources chosen specifically to support their learning, creativity, and personal growth.\r\n\r\nDuring one of our first small-group activities, students worked together while playing cooperative board and card games. They practiced taking turns, communicating respectfully, thinking strategically, and resolving disagreements peacefully. At our creative stations, students used diamond painting, sand art, beads, and other art supplies to practice persistence, attention to detail, and shared decision-making. The allergy-aware snacks helped students remain comfortable and focused during longer sessions, while tokens, privileges, and small prizes recognized teamwork, positive choices, and continued effort.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to connect these activities more closely to college, career, and workplace readiness. Students will rotate through cooperative learning stations, complete career-exploration projects, and reflect on how skills such as communication, patience, problem-solving, creativity, and conflict resolution apply in the workplace. Because of your generosity, my students have engaging opportunities to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop skills that will support them in school, their future careers, and everyday life.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and helping create a classroom where they feel supported,","fullyFundedDate":1777989521718,"projectUrl":"project/college-career-ready-equipping-studen/10097640/","projectTitle":"College & Career Ready: Equipping Students With Tools for Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McNeil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2059067_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1772743049136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-vmcneil"},{"teacherId":2059067,"projectId":10123621,"letterContent":"Thank you for providing the essential supplies that are helping make our classroom more organized, welcoming, and engaging. My students were excited when they first saw the colorful markers, dry-erase materials, index cards, posters, colored pencils, stickers, and other resources. They immediately began discussing how we could use them during lessons and classroom projects. Their excitement showed them that others believe in their education and want them to succeed.\r\n\r\nDuring a recent collaborative activity, students used dry-erase materials and index cards to practice vocabulary, share ideas, and solve problems as a team. The laminating pouches allowed us to protect role sheets, instructions, and study cards so they can be reused for future review games and independent practice. Students also used posters, markers, and colored pencils to present their thinking creatively. Stickers and recognition helped celebrate their effort, participation, and growth, which increased their confidence and motivation.\r\n\r\nOur next steps are to continue using these materials for hands-on lessons, vocabulary-building activities, team projects, review games, and student presentations. Students will create reusable study resources, work together to strengthen their communication and collaboration skills, and visually demonstrate what they have learned. These supplies are truly the backbone of an organized, inclusive classroom where students feel valued, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you for investing in my students and making these meaningful learning experiences possible!","fullyFundedDate":1776193205212,"projectUrl":"project/building-a-well-stocked-classroom-essen/10123621/","projectTitle":"Building a Well-Stocked Classroom: Essential Supplies for Student Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McNeil","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2059067_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1772743049136","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-vmcneil"},{"teacherId":6629992,"projectId":10507065,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom looks and feels entirely different than it did just a few months ago. Many of you use technology daily at home for news, streaming, or keeping in touch—but in our school, technology is much more than a convenience; it is an active bridge to deeper learning, collaboration, and critical thinking.\r\n\r\nHow Technology is Transforming How Our Students Learn\r\nIn a modern classroom, technology shifts students from passive listeners to active creators. Rather than simply reading about a concept in a textbook or listening to a lecture, our new equipment allows students to:\r\n\r\nVisualize Abstract Concepts: Interactive models, real-time data visualizers, and visual design tools let students see complex systems operating right in front of them.\r\n\r\nLearn at Their Own Pace: Adaptive tools allow students who need extra time to practice without feeling rushed, while giving advanced learners space to explore deeper challenges independently.\r\n\r\nCollaborate in Real Time: Students can now work together on group projects simultaneously, sharing ideas, editing work together, and providing constructive peer feedback instantly.","fullyFundedDate":1787284409616,"projectUrl":"project/engineered-inclusion/10507065/","projectTitle":"Engineered Inclusion","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Green","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6629992_orig.jpg?crop=720,720,x0,y9&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653667331905","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/spedmentalhealth"},{"teacherId":10397656,"projectId":10456564,"letterContent":"The caddies have had a positive impact on my Entrepreneurship classroom by helping students stay organized and making our daily routines run more smoothly. Each group has a designated place for supplies, which reduces the amount of time students spend looking for materials or getting out of their seats. The caddies also support student responsibility because team members know where materials belong and are expected to return everything neatly at the end of class.\r\n\r\nHaving the caddies has also helped create a more professional and structured learning environment. Students are able to begin assignments more quickly, work more independently, and focus more of their class time on entrepreneurship activities instead of searching for supplies. They also reinforce teamwork and accountability, especially for our Team Leads, who help make sure their group has the materials they need and that everything is organized before leaving class.","fullyFundedDate":1786625599884,"projectUrl":"project/caddy-up-for-classroom-success/10456564/","projectTitle":"Caddy Up for Classroom Success","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Lindsey","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10397656_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1767985884679","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dr-angelette-lindsey"},{"teacherId":9679505,"projectId":9993049,"letterContent":"Receiving our 3D printer near the end of the school year gave my students an exciting introduction to a technology many of them had never experienced firsthand. Although our time with it was limited, students quickly discovered that 3D printing can be much more than making something fun, it can be used to create practical solutions to real problems.\r\n\r\nStudents worked with existing 3D models to learn the printing process and create functional items for our technology classroom. We printed GPU supports to prevent graphics cards from sagging, cable combs, cable-management clips and holders, 3D-printed zip ties, a custom power-button mount, USB organizers, and other useful items. Students were able to see these printed parts put to work on actual computer hardware, connecting 3D printing directly to what they were learning about computers. We also explored creative and multicolor prints, giving students an opportunity to see the different capabilities of the printer.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite outcomes was that some of the cable-management pieces and other useful prints were shared with other classrooms, extending the impact of this project beyond our own room. These first projects gave students a foundation in preparing, printing, testing, and using 3D-printed objects, and we are excited to build on that experience this school year. Thank you for giving my students access to technology that allows them to learn by creating, experimenting, solving problems, and seeing their work become something useful.","fullyFundedDate":1776114273754,"projectUrl":"project/designing-and-building-custom-computer-c/9993049/","projectTitle":"Designing and Building Custom Computer Cases with 3D Printing","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Hurtado","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9679505_orig.jpg?crop=350,350,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723752669145","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9679505"},{"teacherId":8952826,"projectId":9511368,"letterContent":"The water was utilized throughout our school year to provide students with additional hydration during my class. Students are sincerely grateful for the donation of the waters. They all were excited and happy to see the donated cases of water arriving in our classroom. It made them feel like someone actually cares about them even though they never met those individuals that made the donations. \r\n\r\nThere is no next step for the project because water is consumable, but my students are always asking if more water will be donated. \r\n\r\nWe thank you for your kind gesture. May God Bless.","fullyFundedDate":1755914769423,"projectUrl":"project/watering-minds-fueling-learning/9511368/","projectTitle":"Watering Minds, Fueling Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gayden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8952826_orig.jpg?crop=1070,1070,x204,y51&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690848067756","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8952826"},{"teacherId":8952826,"projectId":8811098,"letterContent":"The infection control supplies were very helpful for our classroom. We were able to maintain a safe and clean environment when performing different types of healthcare skills. It also allowed us to maintain a germ-free classroom in general. All supplies were used appropriately throughout the school year. The supplies were used during preparation of hands-on activities, cleaning up tables at the end of class, disinfecting equipment such as stethoscopes and CPR manikins, and more. \r\n\r\nThe students enjoyed the supplies because it created a clean environment. Students enjoyed the scent of the disinfectant wipes as well.\r\n\r\nThank you from my students and myself. God Bless.","fullyFundedDate":1734710292112,"projectUrl":"project/infection-control-in-healthcare/8811098/","projectTitle":"Infection Control in HealthCare","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gayden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8952826_orig.jpg?crop=1070,1070,x204,y51&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690848067756","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8952826"},{"teacherId":8952826,"projectId":9510947,"letterContent":"The students loved the Jenga Sets. It was a fun and great way for students to review information to prepare for quizzes and tests. I utilized the Jenga sets by creating 52 questions and numbering each Jenga block from 1-52. When the students pull a block, the student answers the questions that based on the number on the block. The were excited from the first day the Jenga sets arrived. We utilized this activity frequently throughout the course of the school year. The step in using the Jenga set an allow the students the create their own review questions/answers.\r\n\r\nThank you for providing these supplies to my class.","fullyFundedDate":1754171996230,"projectUrl":"project/stacking-knowledge-one-jenga-block-at/9510947/","projectTitle":"\"Stacking Knowledge, One Jenga Block at a Time\"","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gayden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8952826_orig.jpg?crop=1070,1070,x204,y51&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1690848067756","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8952826"},{"teacherId":8613937,"projectId":9992955,"letterContent":"Because of your support, my students are learning through hands-on creation instead of just traditional instruction. The 3D printing technology has transformed abstract lessons into real, tangible experiences. Students are now able to design, test, and refine their own ideas, which helps them better understand concepts in math, science, and engineering. Instead of passively receiving information, they are actively problem-solving, collaborating, and thinking critically as they work through each stage of the design process. This shift has made learning more meaningful and has helped students connect classroom lessons to real-world applications.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for my students is watching their digital designs become physical objects. There is a true sense of amazement and pride when they see something they created come to life right in front of them. This process has increased engagement across the classroom, with students eagerly participating, sharing ideas, and encouraging one another. It has also created a learning environment where curiosity and creativity are at the center of instruction.\r\n\r\nI've especially seen a positive impact on students who typically struggle in traditional academic settings. These students have shown incredible growth in confidence as they succeed in designing and producing their own projects. Many who were once hesitant to participate are now actively involved, taking risks, and persevering through challenges when their designs don't work the first time. This technology has given all students an opportunity to experience success in different ways and has helped them see themselves as capable creators and problem-solvers.","fullyFundedDate":1777572040827,"projectUrl":"project/learning-by-making-3d-printing-for-ever/9992955/","projectTitle":"Learning by Making: 3D Printing for Every Learner","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Cerda","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8613937_orig.jpg?crop=350,350,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723042476400","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8613937"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_126147","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":400,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":87,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":18,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":69,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":72.3,"schoolId":126147,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Career Institute South on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Career Institute South","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/dallas-independent-school-district/career-institutes-south/126147"}