CALDWELL, Idaho (CBS2) — Elevate Academy is a trade-focused school that serves disadvantaged students.

Elevate's charter administrator, C.J Watson, says they fill the gap for students who don't do well in the traditional learning environment. He says, "Every kid has a genius and something good in them and it's our job as educators to find that, and there are different places that can happen."

Elevate has multiple trades the students can work in, including, culinary arts, construction, welding/manufacturing, medical arts, criminal justice, business/marketing, and graphic design.

When a CASA organizer, having seen some of the projects each of the kids had been working on, proposed an idea of collaboration, Elevate was all for it.

Watson said collaboration with groups like CASA is important, as they help give real-life experiences. He said,"This partnership between Elevate and Casa was an important collaboration because it's practice for our students. They manage the order, they manage the invoicing, and so it provides a tangible real-world experience that they can take with them."

When the non-profit, CASA, or court-appointed special advocates, were planning for their carnival and needed a few decorative pieces they turned to Elevate. To learn more about the CASA Carnival, click HERE.

Amy Bitner, the organizer of the carnival said the students blew her away with their designs. The students designed, printed and cut picture frames and plaques for the carnival. Bitner said, "We wanted to have decorations for the tables... originally I just asked them to spell CASA... and it was actually their idea to add the logo. And it came out far better than I was ever even thinking."

Bitner said she knew the partnership would be special. She said, "I knew that they would have the passion and the drive and the creativity to make something really beautiful."

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