THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION RELEASE
ABOVE: Delivery of new car to Danville High School. Pictured from left to right are: Matt Spady, Toyota Sales Professional; Stephanie Yates, Executive Director DPSF; Dustin Sheahan, Toyota Sales Manager; Gabriel Hawley, student; Isiah Madden, student; Roy Anderson, student; Bob Richard, Support Specialist DPSF; Dawson Stack, student; Alexandria Browning, student; and Michael Ladd, DHS Automotive Technology Teacher.
May 4, 2026 – What began as a simple “wish” provided to the Danville Public School Foundation became a transformative opportunity for students in the Automotive Technology program at Danville High School.
DHS Automotive Technology teacher, Michael Ladd, never expected that his classroom wish could become a reality. “At the Danville Public School Foundation, I have learned that teachers always have a wish list for their classrooms,” said DPSF Executive Director Stephanie Yates. “I have also learned they are often hesitant to ask for what they need. If teachers don’t submit ideas to DPSF, then we need to get creative in collecting them.”
At the start of the school year, during District 118’s Teacher Institute Day at Danville High School, the Foundation set up a Wish Table to gather ideas. In exchange for a Hershey bar, teachers and teachers’ assistants were invited to share their classroom wishes. Many innovative ideas became real-life classroom projects from wishes collected that day – one of those being a request for a new vehicle for Mr. Ladd’s Automotive Technology classes.
Students working on the new car in the auto shop class.
After reviewing submissions, DPSF followed up with many teachers, including Mr. Ladd, encouraging them to complete an online endowment request. The Foundation worked closely with Mr. Ladd to determine what type of vehicle best aligned with teaching requirements. Initially, a 2023 Toyota Corolla LE was identified as an ideal option due to its relevance to modern automotive systems, including fuel management, computer networking, and electronic safety features.
“The addition of the 2024 Toyota Corolla LE to our automotive lab marks a pivotal shift in how we prepare students for the workforce. This isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a high-tech learning platform. With its Dynamic Force engine featuring dual-injection technology and the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite, our students will be able to engage in both mechanical repair and study electronics and advanced sensor diagnostics. By training on the exact technology currently entering dealership service bays, our graduates will be much better prepared to enter the work force or tech school,” Mr. Ladd explained. Jacob Bretz, Principal at Danville High School added that “Having this new vehicle will allow students to have relevant and up to date experiences in the current world of automotive repair and technology. Thank you to the DPSF for their generosity and commitment to providing our students with top notch learning materials.”
In addition to the vehicle, Mr. Ladd sought to build a partnership with Toyota of Danville—one that could provide students with real-world exposure through guest speakers and potential site visits to their automotive service department.
Toyota of Danville, a longtime supporter of the Foundation, partnered with DPSF to bring the project to life. On May 4, 2026, the dealership delivered a 2024 Toyota Corolla SE—an upgrade from the original request. Toyota of Danville’s Service Department has begun dialogue with Mr. Ladd about educational partnership opportunities for his class.
The Automotive Technology request received strong support from District 118 leadership and the DPSF Board of Directors. As a result, $22,097.60 was awarded, which also provided an online vehicle repair manual and automotive wheel dollies for the lab. This was one of 27 classroom grants fulfilled by the Foundation since July of 2025 for a total of over $159,000.
Founded in 1989, the Danville Public School Foundation is dedicated to promoting and enhancing educational opportunities for students in Danville Public Schools—providing resources and experiences beyond what tax funding alone can support.
