{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Jefferson Leadership Academy","outOfStateSupporters":17.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":5018892,"projectId":9699758,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping bring Strawbees into our 7th and 8th grade robotics classes at Jefferson Leadership Academies. Even within the first two months of use, these materials have already made a clear impact on how students engage with engineering and hands-on learning. When students first saw the Strawbees kits, their reactions ranged from curiosity to excitement. Many immediately started experimenting, asking questions, and testing simple ideas. Several students said they liked that there was no single \"right way\" to build, which helped them feel more comfortable jumping in and trying.\r\n\r\nIn class, students are using Strawbees to design and build basic structures such as towers, bridges, and geometric shapes. At first, many students struggled with choosing the correct connectors or figuring out how to make their structures stable. Instead of getting frustrated, they worked through those challenges by testing, adjusting, and rebuilding. Over time, we saw noticeable growth in their patience, collaboration, and confidence. Students began sharing strategies with one another and taking pride in improving their designs, even when their first attempts did not work.\r\n\r\nAs we continue using Strawbees, our next steps are to deepen students' understanding of structure, balance, and design before moving into more complex robotics work later in the year. These first two months have laid an important foundation for problem-solving and creative thinking. Your support has given our students a meaningful, hands-on way to explore engineering at their own pace, and it has made our robotics classroom a place of curiosity, teamwork, and persistence. Thank you for making this experience possible.","fullyFundedDate":1758223054124,"projectUrl":"project/building-future-engineers-with-strawbees/9699758/","projectTitle":"Building Future Engineers With Strawbees","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Curry","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5018892_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1522017011021","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5018892"},{"teacherId":5656217,"projectId":9059834,"letterContent":"Thank you for helping to create a calm space for my students during testing season. They are able to come to my class, enjoy a snack, and work on their embroidery projects. My students expressed feeling relaxed and relieved when they come to our class. One student said, \"I love this class. Right when I walk in the door, I can feel my body relax.\" That is exactly what I was hoping for and you helped to make that possible. \r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to start their embroidery projects. Most of them had never tried embroidery, so it was a new and fun experience. Some students also took their embroidery projects home and were able to connect with family members who love to embroider. \r\n\r\nIn addition, my students are learning to slow down, pay attention to detail, and be patient with themselves through the embroidery project. It takes time to create something beautiful and they are gaining that experience. I am looking forward to seeing the finished projects. Thank you, again, for your generosity, and a special shout out to Ripple for doubling our donations.","fullyFundedDate":1746509866224,"projectUrl":"project/spread-your-wings-and-relax/9059834/","projectTitle":"Spread Your Wings and Relax!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5656217_orig.jpg?crop=766,766,x675,y423&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1599835422061","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mslizagesuden"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_27451","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1005,"numTeachers":38,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":9,"percentBlack":16,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":66,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 9","studentTeacherRatio":"26.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":82.9,"schoolId":27451,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Jefferson Leadership Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Jefferson Leadership Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/long-beach-unified-school-district/jefferson-leadership-academy/27451"}
Join the 175 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Jefferson Leadership Academy is
an urban public school
in Long Beach, California that is part of Long Beach Unified School District.
It serves 1,005 students
in grades 6 - 9 with a student/teacher ratio of 26.4:1.
Its teachers have had 65 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Share and help support Jefferson Leadership Academy
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of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
91%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Jefferson Leadership Academy 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.
Jefferson Leadership Academy
$51,484
raised using DonorsChoose
65
projects
funded
20
teachers
funded
175
donors
3
projects
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
3
projects for
books
5
projects
for
art supplies
Jefferson Leadership Academy has received support from
145 individuals from California and
30 individuals out-of-state.
