NEISD student combines learning and leadership in new project
For months, 15-year-old Blake Reinhart has spent his afternoons at home working on a special project.
Reinhart, a sophomore at North East ISD’s Stem Academy, is working on his Eagle Scout Project by building and crafting the inside of an interactive playhouse.
The playhouse will feature fidget boards, game stations and even a ‘Plinko’ wall which will be placed in front of Oak Meadow Elementary in the early childhood playground.
“I’m planning just to load it up basically no room left in there,” Blake said.
As the senior patrol leader in Boy Scout Troop 650, Blake is no stranger to taking the reins on large projects.
“I am elected by all my other troop-mates so I lead all of the meetings we have in our troop,” he explained.
He ended up raising more than $5,000 for the playhouse, shattering his $3,500 fundraising goal.
He said any extra funds left over from the project will be donated to the school.
“So, for the fidget boards, they are going to have locks, keys, shoelaces, and Velcro so kids who are hearing and kids who are non-hearing can interact with each other and have fun with each other,” Blake added.
He is also working with NEISD teacher, Sara Block, to make communication boards and signs.
“It’s going to have different items so kids who can’t hear can point at it. Not everybody knows sign language so they can’t interact with the hearing students. So, the kids who can hear can point at the words,” Blake said.
Oak Meadow Elementary houses the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf which services students aged 0-22 from NEISD and neighboring school districts with hearing impairments.
It’s a cause close to Blake’s heart.
“In 5th grade, I was diagnosed with hearing loss in my right ear. It was one of the school exams for hearing,” he said.
He started wearing a hearing aid in the 7th grade.
“It is a little weird in your ear but you get used to it. It’s like getting braces and all that,” he said with a smile.
He said it was extremely helpful, especially in school.
It was through school and his time as a scout that Blake developed a love of both learning and leadership.
For his next chapter, Blake plans to pursue a career in medicine and through this project, he will certainly leave an impact for years to come.
“I’m hoping the playhouse, when I come back 10-15 years later, that it’s still going to be here."
To learn more about the North East ISD’s Programs for Students with Auditory Impairments, click here: https://www.neisd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=9112
Because #NEISDcares!
