{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"George Washington High School","outOfStateSupporters":30.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7390186,"projectId":8709319,"letterContent":"I have taught students with Autism for over 10 years. My first 6 ½ years were spent at the elementary level teaching students about school and the academic, social and emotional skills they would need for their years in K - 12 education. Students with Autism can stay in the public school system until they are 21 years old so I was preparing students for a future that could last up to 16 years long. While this was very important, I now feel my current task of preparing students for their future after high school is even more immense and holds more significance. My students are non-verbal; cognitively low; have health, safety and self-care needs; and often behavioral issues. There are very few opportunities for them after high school is over and even these opportunities require a lot of preparation. We need to teach them to communicate with a device, help them develop the life and work skills they need and prepare them to be as independent as possible. In order to do this, opportunities for learning and practice outside of the classroom and in the community are imperative. When I came to Washington High School four years ago, some of the students with Autism collected recycling throughout the building, but that was the extent of job skill preparation and of opportunities outside of the classroom. Since then, we have continued to collect recycling, but have also added filling snack pantries and delivering popcorn orders on Fridays within our school and working one day each week at a church and a library in our community. \r\n\r\nLast year, one of Washington's after school clubs built 5 cabinets to put in different locations around the school for students to access healthy snacks throughout the day. Our school has a very high free and reduced lunch population and while free breakfast and lunch are provided, nothing is available between and after those meals . This club purchased and received donations for all the snacks and filled the pantries twice a month. Our classroom offered to fill the pantries the other two weeks of the month. This school year, the club moved on to a different project so we took over the snack pantries full-time.\r\n\r\nFilling the pantries twice a week has given the students in my self-contained classroom an opportunity to move and be seen throughout the building. It is a real-life opportunity and a worthwhile job. They use their communication device to greet people they see, say \"you're welcome\" when people say \"thank you,\" and communicate in any other way (see photos of students with their communication device on the cart we use to take snacks to the pantries and a photo of one of my students using her device to talk to a secretary). When we fill the pantries we talk about putting items that are the same together and with the label facing up. We discuss terms like separate, together, front, back, top, bottom, left, right, more and less. Students work on the job skills of following directions, completing work correctly, accepting corrections, staying on task, doing your best, asking for help and more. All of my students have shown some improvement in all of these areas.\r\n\r\nHowever, filling the pantries are not the only learning opportunity involved in this project. Students also prepare inventory (take individual snacks out of boxes and break down the boxes). Some students started with only being able to break down boxes in a closed room close to our classroom. After time, students who started with this job developed the ability and behavior control that we could trust them to go out into the school and fill snack pantries, and they have done amazing (see photos).\r\n\r\nIn addition to all of these skills, preparing for and filling snack pantries also gives us opportunities to practice improving students' independence. Three of my students have individual support and two of my students share one support person. While it is possible for my students to have a job coach with them if they are able to work after high school, they must have a basic level of ability to do the job. Dayhab programs that provide activities, learning and social opportunities are also available, but levels of support are much lower than schools provide. Typical support levels are 4 to 5 students with one adult. Students will not be successful in these programs and may be asked to leave if they depend on the individual support of an adult. The snack pantry project has given us the opportunity to observe our students in real-life situations, see what their needs are and create opportunities to learn, practice and improve their skills.\r\n\r\nFilling snack pantries has become an important part of our life and work skills instruction and practice, but it would not be possible if we were not able to obtain donated snacks. We are incredibly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1733274489402,"projectUrl":"project/help-fill-snack-pantries-job-skills-b/8709319/","projectTitle":"Help Fill Snack Pantries: Job Skills & Brain Food","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jennifer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7390186"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_51637","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1182,"numTeachers":75,"percentFrplEligible":62,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":22,"percentWhite":55,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":8,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"15.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":70.0,"schoolId":51637,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about George Washington High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"George Washington High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/iowa/cedar-rapids-community-school-district/george-washington-high-school/51637"}

George Washington High School

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About this school

George Washington High School is an urban public school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that is part of Cedar Rapids Community School District. It serves 1,182 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 15.8:1. Its teachers have had 55 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

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Public School

Title 1

Grades 9 - 12

1,182 Students

75 Teachers

2205 Forest Dr SE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 View local requests

http://www.cr.k12.ia.us

Evidence-based impact

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

George Washington High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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George Washington High School Demographics

62%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

31%

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.

George Washington High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

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.

George Washington High School

$52,503

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

203

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

projects for art supplies

George Washington High School has received support from 142 individuals from Iowa and 61 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

George Washington High School

About this school

Equity Focus School

George Washington High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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George Washington High School Demographics

George Washington High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

George Washington High School

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.