Bakersfield Central School in Bakersfield, California on DonorsChoose

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The plants, soft lighting, fidget tools, puzzles, and calming activities you funded have created an environment where students can breathe, regulate their emotions, and re-engage with learning.\r\n\r\nWhile I am unable to share photos of my students for privacy and legal reasons, please know that your impact is visible every single day. I see it in their posture relaxing when they enter the room, in their quiet focus as they color or water a plant, and in their willingness to open up and participate in lessons after finding a few minutes of calm. One student recently told me, \"This room makes me feel like I can think again.\"\r\n\r\nThe difference these materials have made has inspired other teachers in our facility to create similar trauma-informed spaces, extending your impact far beyond my classroom. What began as a small project has grown into a model of care and hope for our entire school.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping transform a classroom—and, in many ways, the lives of young people who are learning to believe in themselves again. Your kindness reminds them that they are valued and capable of change.","fullyFundedDate":1758800578839,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-potential-calm-focus-for-re/9612044/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Potential: Calm & Focus for Recently Incarcerated Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Walton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8134869_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747541190448","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8134869"},{"teacherId":8134869,"projectId":9288562,"letterContent":"Since your donations arrived, I've seen students light up when they discover a book that speaks to them—stories that reflect their cultures, experiences, and dreams. Many have started asking questions, sharing insights, and showing a genuine curiosity about the world around them. For students who once felt disconnected from school, these books are helping them rediscover the joy of learning and the power of imagination.\r\n\r\nBy funding this project, you've done more than put books on shelves; you've given these young people tools to envision a different future for themselves. You've shown them that their stories matter—that they are seen, valued, and capable of growth.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and for investing in their potential. Your kindness continues to ripple through our classroom every day.\r\n\r\nNot only has your generosity inspired my students, but it has inspired my fellow teachers to write grant requests to improve their own book collections. :)","fullyFundedDate":1746444039579,"projectUrl":"project/books-that-reflect-inspire-and-empower/9288562/","projectTitle":"Books That Reflect, Inspire, and Empower Incarcerated Youth","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Walton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8134869_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1747541190448","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8134869"},{"teacherId":8134869,"projectId":9050486,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my DonorsChoose project, \"Building Literacy in Incarcerated Youth Using Relatable & Accessible Books.\" Your generosity has made a profound impact on my students, my classroom, and the culture of reading within our unique learning environment (it has even inspired my fellow teachers to improve their own book collections!).\r\n\r\nI teach in the intake classroom at a youth detention center school, where I meet about five new students each day. Many of these young people have not been to school in a very long time. School hasn't always been a positive place for them—and reading even less so. Many arrive in my classroom openly disinterested in school and adamant that they don't like books. But the incredible collection you helped provide is helping me change that, one student at a time.\r\n\r\nThese books, chosen for their accessibility, relevance, and variety, give me the ability to find something for everyone—whether it's a sports biography, a graphic novel, a fast-paced urban fiction title, or a nonfiction book about cars or justice. I often rearrange our book displays to reflect students' interests or special themes—like Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, or Women's History Appreciation—which helps draw them in and sparks conversation and curiosity.\r\n\r\nOur classroom is a little like an \"old school\" school—there's no internet access for students (except during testing), and we have very limited use of electronics. In a world so saturated with screens, there's something refreshing and powerful about a space built around physical books, real conversations, and hands-on learning. Many students have told me they actually like it this way—it feels different, calmer, more focused. The books become a welcome escape and, sometimes, a surprising comfort.\r\n\r\nWhile I can't share photos of my students due to their incarceration status, I wish you could see the way they light up when they find a book that speaks to them, and when they recommend books to each other. 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About this school

Bakersfield Central School is a public school in Bakersfield, California that is part of Kern County Office of Education. It serves 160 students in grades 5 - 12. Its teachers have had 5 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 5 - 12

160 Students

# of teachers unavailable

1831 Ridge Rd

Bakersfield, CA 93305 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Bakersfield Central School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Stilwell

Mrs. Walton

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Bakersfield Central School Demographics

85%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

82%

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.

Bakersfield Central School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

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