TEMPLE, Texas — Nearly 40 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 18).
Temple ISD treated the teachers to the shopping spree by using generous donations from the Temple Education Foundation (TEF) and the Temple Business League (TBL). Those donations combined to provide each of the participating teachers with $200 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 $200 budget and could be used in the classroom to benefit students. Teachers selected supplies like glue, folders, binders, notebooks, markers, electric sharpeners, tape dispensers, cleaning wipes, and sanitizer. Teachers also selected storage bins, treasure box items, and activity-related items for their students to use. The shopping spree was designed for teachers who are new to the profession and many of them worked with their mentor teachers to help create their wish list for the event.
This is the fourth straight 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, each teacher received $200 to purchase classroom supplies,” said Dr. Donna Ward, assistant superintendent of human resources for TISD. “This is one way we can say thank you for choosing to teach and for choosing to serve Temple students. We are truly blessed with the best!”
Rosalva Munoz is a bilingual pre-K teacher at Meredith-Dunbar Early Childhood Academy and one of the teachers participating in Friday’s event. She was able to find storage containers, dry erase markers, and flash cards to help reenforce letters, numbers, and colors. Munoz also found a pencil sharpener, card stock, and items to put in a treasure box for his students. She was also able to replenish her supply of folders and composition books for her students to use.
“This is so awesome, I feel like a kid being here shopping,” Munoz said. “I don’t have to spend my own money because I already spent a lot. This is such a relief to be able to get some other things that I needed for the classroom. It is going to be phenomenal for the students to see all of the things that I was able to get. There are going to love this. I just want to say thank you because this is such a blessing.”
Dulce Lopez is teaching fourth grade math at Hector P. Garcia Elementary School. She was also able to buy some storage containers and additional sets of headphones for her students. Lopez also found office supplies that she will use to help organize her classroom and the students work.
“I think this is a really amazing opportunity and I have never heard of another district doing something like this,” Lopez added. “I am anxious to get back and get these set up in my room for my students. The year is off to a great start, I have amazing students, and I am just so excited.”
The Temple Walmart Super Center on 31st Street hosted the teachers for Friday’s shopping spree.