Bailey Intermediate teacher, Angelia Kennedy, accepts flowers from local OfficeMax Assistant Store Manager, Joe Lewis, and entourage upon learning she was chosen during the company’s recognition program.
Each year, teachers spend on average $1,000 from their own pockets on essential supplies for their classrooms and their students. That’s why OfficeMax joined with Adopt-A-Classroom to create A Day Made Better: an annual, one-day event that awards more than 1,000 educators with more than $1,000 each in school supplies.
Today through A Day Made Better, local OfficeMax associates surprised Angelia Kennedy, Bailey 5th grade science and social studies teacher, with a bouquet of flowers, certificate, and $1,000 in school supplies.
“It is such an honor to know that I was nominated by people I respect so much and to receive the gifts from OfficeMax is unbelievable,” said Angelia through tears. “I’m so grateful to have a job that I love and to know that the job I do is appreciated. I cannot think of a better way to start my day!”
“Thank you to Mr. Dawson (Superintendent), Mrs. McDowell (Assistant Superintendent), Ms. Starnes (Bailey Principal), and those at Office Max for the wonderful surprise,” Angelia continued.
NLISD Assistant Superintendent Shelley McDowell said, “We were so pleased to be selected by OfficeMax to nominate a teacher to be recognized for their outstanding qualities. Angelia is a teacher who teaches with an amazing passion. She loves her students and they love her; she makes learning fun for them every day.”
When speaking as to why Angelia was nominated, McDowell said, “She is a very responsible person, a person with strong integrity, high morals and outstanding leadership qualities. She is an asset to our district, a standout teacher, and so deserving of this award.”
Over the past six years, OfficeMax’s A Day Made Better and other OfficeMax Goodworks programs have contributed more than $18 million in grants and supplies to support more than 29,000 teachers and their classrooms.
“Through OfficeMax’s contributions to A Day Made Better, we’re able to create widespread awareness about the needs specific to teacher-funded classrooms, and encourage the public to adopt a teacher in their hometown through our non-profit partner, Adopt-A-Classroom,” said local OfficeMax Manager, Tobe Callahan. “A Day Made Better is our annual, company-wide community initiative involving every OfficeMax business area and many key vendors.”
Adopt-A-Classroom’s mission is to find a community partner for every teacher, providing financial support to buy the supplies they need, and moral support to show that the community cares about their success.
“In honor of the sixth anniversary of A Day Made Better, we expanded the program to include a supply drive that took place in store from July 8, 2012, through the end of back-to-school,” said Callahan.
These supplies collected were presented (as a surprise) to Bailey Principal Missy Starnes following the classroom surprise for the teacher. The supplies are a gift to the entire school from the local community and OfficeMax.
Josh Allen Josh is the Managing Editor of www.eParisExtra.com. If you have a suggestion or comment about a story or possible story, you may email him at josh@eparistexas.com.
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