An English teacher from Canyon High School has partnered with the William S. Hart (WiSH) Education Foundation to make small desks available to disadvantaged students within the William S. Hart Union High School District during this time of distance learning.

Over the past several weeks, WiSH officials have been working to get desks to disadvantaged students within the Hart District after Laurel Priesz, an English teacher at Canyon High, came to WiSH Executive Director Amy Daniels with the idea.

“Most of them are students who are disadvantaged in some way,” Daniels said. “A lot of these kids don’t have any private space at all in which to work.”

Students without access to their own space are impacted “both physically and mentally,” according to Daniels. She shared a story of one student who had to use a blanket on the floor as a workspace, and another who’s back was hurting due to having to sit up straight on a bed for school, as they simply did not have a space of their own.

“It is so vital for these kids to feel like they have a space of their own,” Daniels said. “If they don’t, it affects them physically and emotionally, and it affects their grades.”

Some students did not even have space for the 30-inch school desk. In those cases, WiSH officials worked with Home Depot and Macy’s to get foldable tray tables and chairs so students could store them easier.

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As of Tuesday, officials have been able to deliver 62 desks and foldable tray tables to disadvantaged students within the Hart District.

“There’s always somebody else that needs more than you,” Daniels said. “It’s so huge. The kids are just so grateful.”

Volunteers deliver the desks every other Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with the Wednesday before serving as a deadline

Families seeking a desk for their student are encouraged to contact either Priesz or Daniels at lpriesz@hartdistrict.org or wish@hartdistrict.org respectively. Additionally, anyone able to volunteer as a delivery driver is encouraged to email Daniels.

For more information on the WiSH Foundation, click here.

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