{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"UT Tyler University Academy - Longview","outOfStateSupporters":10.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7924367,"projectId":8557925,"letterContent":"Secondary students are rarely handed something and told it belongs to them something designed specifically for their inner life, not their grade point average. When our Mental Health Self-Regulation Toolkits arrived, that's exactly what happened. Each student received a kit that included mindfulness activities, stress management guides, and a self-reflection journal, and the response was quieter than I expected not indifferent, but thoughtful. Several students held their journals for a moment before opening them, like they were deciding what to do with something that actually mattered.\r\n\r\nThe materials introduced skills that don't always make it into a standard school day: how to notice when your body is signaling stress before it becomes overwhelming, how to use breathing and grounding techniques to reset, and how to use written reflection as a tool for understanding your own patterns. For adolescents who are often told to manage their emotions without ever being taught how, these resources filled a genuine gap. Students began using the stress management guides independently during free moments, before tests, and after difficult conversations which told me the strategies were actually sticking.\r\n\r\nOne student in particular stands out. She had a habit of shutting down entirely when academic pressure built up, and redirecting her was a daily challenge. After working through her self-reflection journal for a few weeks, she started identifying her triggers out loud and asking for what she needed before she reached her breaking point. That kind of self-advocacy doesn't happen by accident it's a skill, and your donation helped her build it. Thank you for investing in the whole student, not just the academic one.","fullyFundedDate":1723468078365,"projectUrl":"project/secondary-mental-health-self-regulation/8557925/","projectTitle":"Secondary Mental Health Self-Regulation Toolkits","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vaughn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7924367_orig.jpg?crop=1445,1445,x0,y48&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718887050471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7924367"},{"teacherId":7924367,"projectId":8492594,"letterContent":"Before our patio umbrellas arrived, outdoor time in the Texas heat was something students and teachers alike had to brace for. The sun is relentless, and without any shade structure, even a short stretch outside could feel uncomfortable cutting recess short, limiting lunch enjoyment, and making outdoor learning feel more like a chore than a refreshing break. The day the umbrellas went up, students noticed immediately. Several stopped in their tracks on the way out the door, pointed, and said some version of \"Wait! Is that for us?\" That reaction never gets old.\r\n\r\nWhat followed was a genuine shift in how students used their outdoor time. Lunch became more relaxed and social students lingered, talked, and actually finished their food instead of rushing inside to escape the heat. Recess felt more expansive because kids had a comfortable home base to return to. And for outdoor learning moments, having a shaded gathering spot meant we could actually focus on the lesson rather than squinting into the sun and counting down the minutes.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, we are planning to use the shaded outdoor space as a regular extension of our classroom a place for read-alouds, small group work, and project sharing. Having a comfortable, dedicated outdoor spot opens up possibilities that simply didn't exist before. You gave our students room to breathe, literally and figuratively, and we are so grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1723924759214,"projectUrl":"project/students-shine-bright-but-still-need-sha/8492594/","projectTitle":"Students Shine Bright But Still Need Shade For Outdoor Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vaughn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7924367_orig.jpg?crop=1445,1445,x0,y48&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718887050471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7924367"},{"teacherId":7924367,"projectId":8463374,"letterContent":"There is something powerful about handing a teenager a set of quality art supplies and stickers and watching them realize the materials are truly theirs no sharing, no rationing, no \"be careful with those.\" The day our new markers, stickers, inspirational materials and creative materials arrived, I watched students who rarely show excitement in school light up. A few held them like they were something precious. That reaction told me everything I needed to know about what this project would mean for them.\r\n\r\nIn our class, these materials became the foundation for a mental health journaling and expression project. Students used markers, art supplies, stickers, etc... to create personal \"mental health maps\" visual representations of their emotions, stressors, coping strategies, and the things that bring them joy. For adolescents who struggle to put feelings into words, having a creative outlet that is low-stakes and expressive made all the difference. Several students who had never voluntarily shared anything in class walked up to show me their pages. That was not a small thing.\r\n\r\nLooking ahead, students are using what they created as a jumping-off point for goal-setting conversations identifying one area of their mental health map they want to nurture and making a concrete plan for how to do it. Your generosity didn't just fund supplies; it gave these students a mirror to see themselves more clearly and the tools to imagine what comes next. Thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1723468121388,"projectUrl":"project/marking-your-potential-mental-health-in/8463374/","projectTitle":"Marking Your Potential: Mental Health Incentives for 8th-12th","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vaughn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7924367_orig.jpg?crop=1445,1445,x0,y48&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718887050471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7924367"},{"teacherId":7924367,"projectId":8461250,"letterContent":"When I placed our new books in the calm-down corner for the first time, I didn't know what to expect. By the end of that first week, one of my second graders a child who had spent most of the year bolting from the classroom when emotions felt too big was sitting cross-legged on the floor, flipping through the pages and whispering the story quietly to herself. That moment said everything.\r\n\r\nOur new read-alouds are designed with students like mine at the center. Books like these introduce concepts such as naming emotions, recognizing body signals, calming strategies, and understanding how our feelings affect the people around us. In a self-contained special education setting, these aren't just reading lessons they are life skills. We read together as a whole group on our classroom rug, with visuals and movement built in so every learner can access the story, regardless of where they are with decoding. After we read, we act it out, draw it, or talk about when we've felt that way ourselves.\r\n\r\nSeveral of my students with autism have especially latched onto books that follow predictable patterns, because the structure itself feels safe and calming. One of my kindergarteners now requests a specific title every single morning before our day begins. Your generosity made that possible and for a child still learning to communicate wants and needs, that request is everything. Thank you from the bottom of our classroom's heart.","fullyFundedDate":1724013177851,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-special-needs-ninjas-through/8461250/","projectTitle":"Empowering Special Needs Ninjas Through Social-Emotional Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Vaughn","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7924367_orig.jpg?crop=1445,1445,x0,y48&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1718887050471","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7924367"},{"teacherId":8632871,"projectId":9551774,"letterContent":"Your incredible support has transformed our classroom's art program in ways we never imagined possible. The art supplies you helped us acquire have opened up a world of creativity and self-expression for our students.\r\n\r\nMany of our students have shared how much these supplies mean to them. They are excited to come to art class, eager to try new materials, and proud of the artwork they can now create.\r\nWe cannot thank you enough for investing in our students' artistic journey. Your generosity has made a lasting impact that goes far beyond simple art supplies – you've helped nurture creativity, build confidence, and inspire young minds.","fullyFundedDate":1766679436892,"projectUrl":"project/artistry-unleashed/9551774/","projectTitle":"Artistry Unleashed","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hull","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8632871_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1660850556543","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8632871"},{"teacherId":10268857,"projectId":9834580,"letterContent":"Thanks to your donation, my students now have access to 14 wireless digital microscopes that connect directly to our Chromebooks. They have already made a impact in our science classroom. We used them for the first time during a 6th grade lab where students observed rock samples under magnification, and it completely changed the experience. Instead of only reading about texture, mineral crystals, and rock formartion, students were able to zoom in, examine real details, and make stronger observations based on what they could actually see. \r\n\r\nAs we move into our life science units, these microscopes will be even more powerful for student learning in both 6th and 7th grade. Students will be able to observe specimens that are difficult to view clearly with traditional classroom tools, such as plant structures, microorganisms, and small organisms, and then capture digital images to use in lab reports, CER writing, and PBL presentations. These microscopes will also support group learning, allowing students to collaborate, compare findings, and build stronger explanations using real visual evidence from their own investigations.\r\n\r\nA few students who typically struggle to stay engaged during traditional lessons were some of the most excited participants during this activity. Because the microscopes are hands-on and visual, they gave students a new way to connect with science and feel confident in what they were learning. These microscopes are going to be used throughout both 6th and 7th grade labs this year, and they will continue to strengthen student learning through real investigations, collaboration, and discovery. Thank you again for making this opportunity possible for my students!","fullyFundedDate":1761666791614,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-the-microscopic-world-around-u/9834580/","projectTitle":"Exploring the Microscopic World Around Us!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10268857_orig.png?crop=200,200,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758222560846","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10268857"},{"teacherId":10268857,"projectId":9726674,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom has entered a whole new level of discovery. The micro:bit v2 Classroom Set has given my 6th and 7th grade science students the chance to see how coding connects directly to the world around them. Instead of just talking about forces, motion, and energy, my students are now programming sensors to measure and record real data. They can see the numbers change as they move, test, and design. We are able to turn abstract science concepts into something they can hold, test, and improve.\r\n\r\nThe excitement has been contagious. Students are collaborating, troubleshooting, and celebrating small victories. They've built timers, step counters, and speed calculators to use in their labs. After Christmas, there are temperature recording projects and soil sensors we can build with the microbits. For many students, this is their first experience coding, and the moment they see their code come to life on the micro:bit's LED display, they light up with pride. \r\n\r\nYour support has truly made science come alive in our classroom. You've given my students more than just technologt, you've given them confidence, curiosity, and the belief that they can be creators of technology, not just consumers. Thank you for investing in their future and for believing in what young minds can do when given the right tools.","fullyFundedDate":1758663637974,"projectUrl":"project/big-science-in-small-packages-microbit/9726674/","projectTitle":"Big Science in Small Packages: Micro:bits for Middle School","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Marshall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10268857_orig.png?crop=200,200,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758222560846","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10268857"},{"teacherId":9928744,"projectId":9124754,"letterContent":"We are grateful to all of you who took the time to give to our DonorsChoose project! Our PE program has been so blessed by your generosity and we wanted to acknowledge those who helped in every way! The kids were so excited to get to play with all the new equipment. They have already enjoyed several kickball games, a variety of games using our new hula hoops and were stoked to receive the tabletop scoreboard flipper! The scoreboard is so useful and a bonus is that it gives those kids that might be sitting out due to injury or illness a way to still be a part of their PE class as the Score Keeper. It's great!\r\n\r\nWe are so fortunate to have the outdoor space that we have and the new equipment for our classes and we love that it allows us to get our kids outside and MOVING! \r\nWe are excited for our upcoming lessons on throwing and catching, and we are looking at future plans for a brand new soccer unit too. Volleyball is a popular unit too and the kids can't wait for us to put up our new net! Again, thank you for your donations!","fullyFundedDate":1746533542769,"projectUrl":"project/moving-out-getting-active-outside-in-p/9124754/","projectTitle":"Moving Out- Getting Active Outside in P.E.","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kubiak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9928744"},{"teacherId":8822320,"projectId":9003982,"letterContent":"On behalf of University Academy at Longview, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your incredible generosity in funding our recent art project. Because of your kindness, our art room has been transformed into a space of endless creativity, exploration, and joy. Your donations provided us with much-needed art supplies, clay, tools, aprons, tablecloths, and even gelli plates for printmaking—items that will directly enrich the learning experiences of our students for years to come.\r\n\r\nBefore your gift, many of our art projects were limited by the resources we had on hand. We often had to make tough choices about which mediums to explore and which creative dreams to postpone. But thanks to you, those limits have been lifted. Now, students can experiment with high-quality clay, use proper tools to shape their ideas into tangible works of art, and fully immerse themselves in the creative process without worrying about making a mess—because we have aprons and tablecloths to protect their clothes and workspace.\r\n\r\nOne of the most exciting additions to our classroom is the set of gelli plates for printmaking. For many of our students, this is their very first experience with this type of artistic technique, and the excitement on their faces has been unforgettable. They love watching their designs come to life through layers of color, texture, and imagination. The gelli plates have opened up a whole new world of artmaking that blends creativity with hands-on experimentation, and it's all possible because of you.\r\n\r\nAlready, I've seen students take more creative risks, collaborate with each other in new ways, and take pride in their finished pieces. They're eager to show their families what they've made and to talk about the techniques they've learned. These moments of pride are priceless, and you've made them possible.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has sent a powerful message to our students: that their creativity matters, that their voices matter, and that people believe in their potential—even people they've never met. That kind of encouragement can have a lifelong impact.\r\n\r\nFrom the bottom of our hearts, thank you for investing in our students, our classroom, and the future of the arts at University Academy. Your generosity will continue to inspire creativity, spark joy, and build confidence in every student who walks through our art room door.","fullyFundedDate":1739372338415,"projectUrl":"project/next-level-tools-for-exploring-elementar/9003982/","projectTitle":"Next Level Tools for Exploring Elementary Artists","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rhudy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8822320_orig.jpg?crop=1536,1536,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1734403292137","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8822320"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_120978","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":381,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":67,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":4,"percentWhite":68,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"K - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":89.8,"schoolId":120978,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about UT Tyler University Academy - Longview on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"UT Tyler University Academy - Longview","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/ut-tyler-university-academy-district/innovation-academy-longview/120978"}