TEMPLE, Texas — More than fifty first-year Temple Independent School District teachers had the opportunity to add to their classrooms after participating in a district sponsored shopping spree on Friday (September 26).
Temple ISD treated the teachers to the shopping spree by using generous donations from community partners and the Temple Education Foundation (TEF). Those donations combined to provide each of the 52 participating teachers with $150 to spend on supplies or other needs for their classrooms. The teachers had the freedom to select any items they wanted as long as those items fit the $150 budget and could be used in the classroom to benefit students. Teachers selected supplies like glue, folders, binders, notebooks, and markers, electric sharpeners, tape dispensers, cleaning wipes, and sanitizer. Teachers also selected rugs, pillows, bookshelves, or lamps for their students to use.
This is the third year TISD has sponsored a first-year teacher shopping spree, and the district is grateful for the community’s support of Temple’s teachers and their students.
“Through the generosity and support of the Temple Education Foundation (TEF) and other community donors, we were able to provide each teacher with $150 to purchase supplies for their classrooms,” said Dr. Donna Ward, assistant superintendent of human resources for TISD. “Today’s event is just one way we and our sponsors can say THANK YOU for choosing the teaching profession and for choosing to serve Temple students. We are truly blessed with the best!”
Madison Klimczuk-Corley teaches third grade at Jefferson Elementary. She found some lamps to add to her classroom décor and fidget items for her students to use. Klimczuk-Corley also stocked up on sticky notes, tabs to mark sections in textbooks, hanging file folders, and some other items to help her organize her classroom. As a Temple ISD alum, Klimczuk-Corley is also appreciative of the support from the district and community in her first year of teaching.
“This is amazing, because I have been spending some of my own money to put my classroom together,” Klimczuk-Corley said. “It is really amazing to be able to get some of the items that I have been putting on a list and wanting to get. When we got this opportunity, I thought that I had to go, and I am really grateful. The year is off to a good start and the kids are really sweet, so it has been fun.”
Kerisa Chapek is teaching sixth grade math at Lamar Middle School. Chapek filled her cart with rulers, a pad full of poster-sized sheets of paper, and highlighters for group activities to help her students begin to highlight and analyze their work. She also bought pencils, stickers, bins to hold make-up work, and items to help her start an in-class reward system.
“All of the stuff I have here actually impacts my kids and I am really excited to share this with them,” Chapek added. “I am excited to see them be able to use this because it is going to help them strengthen their skills. I am super happy to be with Temple ISD. I feel very supported and very blessed to be a part of a wonderful team.”
The Temple Walmart Super Center on 31st Street hosted the teachers for Friday’s shopping spree.