{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy","outOfStateSupporters":43.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9581021,"projectId":9825227,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous support of our DonorsChoose project and for believing in the creative potential of our students. Because of you, our Visual Arts classroom was transformed in ways that had a profound impact on student learning, curiosity, and confidence.\r\n\r\nBefore your contributions, our students were creating art primarily with very basic materials—pencils, paper, rulers, and markers. While those tools are important, your donations allowed our students in grades 10–12 to move beyond the limitations of two-dimensional work and explore materials that were previously unavailable to them. With the plaster wrap and cyanotype printmaking supplies you provided, students were able to engage in rich material explorations that deepened both their technical skills and conceptual understanding of art.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting moments came when students were introduced to rigid wrap plaster casting. After learning about the artist John Ahearn, students explored how portraiture can exist beyond a flat surface. The moment they first handled the plaster wrap, there was a noticeable shift in the room—excitement, curiosity, and a willingness to take creative risks. Students became deeply invested in creating three-dimensional portraits, carefully observing facial features, collaborating with peers, and problem-solving as they worked through the casting process. Many expressed pride in seeing their ideas take physical form.\r\n\r\nStudents also explored cyanotype printmaking, which introduced an unexpected and meaningful learning curve. As they chased the afternoon sun and experimented with object placement, some prints did not turn out as expected. Instead of frustration, these results sparked thoughtful dialogue about light, exposure, chemistry, and the science behind sun prints. These moments of trial and discovery became some of the most powerful learning experiences of the project.\r\n\r\nBecause of your generosity, students are now expanding their personal portfolios with plaster casting and cyanotype work—approaches they had never imagined trying before. These materials have not only enriched our current lessons but have opened new pathways for future projects rooted in experimentation, interdisciplinary learning, and creative confidence.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my students and our entire classroom community, thank you for making this experience possible. Your support has truly expanded how our students see art—and themselves as artists.","fullyFundedDate":1760731127510,"projectUrl":"project/from-pencil-to-portfolio-supporting-you/9825227/","projectTitle":"From Pencil to Portfolio: Supporting Young Women in Art","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Jean","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9581021_orig.jpg?crop=1386,1386,x466,y1159&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753377885421","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9581021"},{"teacherId":9577564,"projectId":9511201,"letterContent":"On behalf of the entire Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy (BELA) community, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support in funding our new Ninja Slushie Machine. Your contribution has already made a meaningful impact on our students and the culture of joy, creativity, and entrepreneurship we strive to cultivate each day.\r\n\r\nOur students and staff have eagerly embraced this new resource as part of a school-wide fundraising initiative. One of the standout moments happened during our first trial run, when students raised $70 selling slushie cups to go towards travel and care cost for financially strained students selected to go on an overnight debate trip.\r\n\r\nTheir reaction when they first saw the machine was priceless. They immediately began brainstorming ways the slushies could support school events, class projects, and community building activities. It has quickly become a point of pride and possibility for them.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, our students are beginning the next phase of a project focused on providing resources for families and students impacted by the government shut down, which effects a vast amount of our schools population. Your generation have made these acts of service a possibility!","fullyFundedDate":1755521937661,"projectUrl":"project/the-gift-of-independence/9511201/","projectTitle":"The Gift of Independence","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lexy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9577564_orig.jpg?crop=624,624,x0,y8&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1719418018738","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9577564"},{"teacherId":9446666,"projectId":9596509,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students and I have already begun using the new classroom materials in meaningful and exciting ways. One of our first activities was a collaborative review session where students used the new dry-erase boards to analyze historical events. They worked in small groups, writing causes and consequences and then sharing their thinking with the class. The boards made participation feel low-pressure and fun, and it was incredible to see every student actively engaged and confident in their work.\r\n\r\nThe new rug has quickly become our \"community corner.\" Students love gathering there for warm-ups, group discussions, and reflection activities. It has transformed a section of our classroom into a welcoming, comfortable space that supports both academic learning and social-emotional growth.\r\n\r\nTheir reactions when the materials first arrived were priceless. Students immediately gravitated toward the dry-erase boards—several asked if we could use them that same day. They loved how clean, sturdy, and fresh they looked, and it made them feel prepared and valued. The rug brought out a different kind of excitement—they sat on it right away, tested how soft it was, and talked about how much they appreciated having a cozy spot in the room. Your support made them feel seen and cared for.\r\n\r\nRight now, my students are beginning a new unit focused on analyzing historical case studies and building arguments with evidence. The paper, pens, and whiteboard calendar are helping us stay organized as we map out deadlines and prepare for our upcoming timeline project. Students will use the dry-erase boards to brainstorm, the identi-pens and loose-leaf paper to draft their timelines, and the rug area for small-group peer review.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has already made an incredible impact. You've helped create a more engaging, organized, and welcoming learning environment where my students feel empowered every single day. We are truly grateful for your kindness and belief in our classroom. Thank you for supporting our work and our scholars' growth.","fullyFundedDate":1758899005251,"projectUrl":"project/building-comfort-collaboration-and-org/9596509/","projectTitle":"Building Comfort, Collaboration, and Organization in Our Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Allisa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9446666_orig.jpg?crop=2060,2060,x81,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755272121671","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9446666"},{"teacherId":9799740,"projectId":8973907,"letterContent":"Already, the books that your donations helped provide the girls at Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy have improved our curriculum. The 9th and 10th-grade Ethnic Studies teachers used these texts in the past unit, and the teachers and students shared how impactful they were. \r\n\r\nWhen I think about the girls at Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy, I think about the strength and courage each one of them has. Many of them come to this school without knowing any other students and having never been at an all-girls school. Students travel far over Brooklyn and even from other NYC boroughs to receive an IB education guided by our four core values of sisterhood, scholarship, strength, and service.\r\n\r\nThe Ethnic Studies Language and Literature courses at BELA take a joyful approach to helping students recognize and celebrate their diversity. These books helped provide a way for our teachers to do this throughout the units and we couldn't be more thankful!","fullyFundedDate":1732764662502,"projectUrl":"project/classic-books-for-our-ethnic-studies-stu/8973907/","projectTitle":"Classic Books for our Ethnic Studies Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lauren","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9799740_orig.png?crop=745,745,x65,y8&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1732727307965","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9799740"},{"teacherId":9446666,"projectId":8711194,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations to help support my classroom! My students and I are so grateful. We have used the resources to keep our classroom clean and students healthy; students have been excited to use the expo markers to \"be the teacher\" and write on the whiteboard; and overall, our classroom feels organized and well-stocked to support learning. \r\n\r\nMy students were so excited to open the packages - they loved seeing all of the highlighter colors that allow them to annotate their historical documents more easily. Additionally, the purchase of a fan for our classroom has been life-changing!\r\n\r\nNext, they will be using the supplies to analyze primary historical documents and apply their thinking to real-world situations. We truly appreciate you!","fullyFundedDate":1732406597954,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-history-cooling-our-classroo/8711194/","projectTitle":"Empowering History: Cooling Our Classroom and Adding Essential Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Allisa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9446666_orig.jpg?crop=2060,2060,x81,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755272121671","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9446666"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_121555","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":120,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":82,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":77,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":20,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 10","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":56.3,"schoolId":121555,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-state-department-education/brooklyn-emerging-leaders-academy-charter-high-school/121555"}