Many teachers spend money out of their own pockets each year to offset school budget shortfalls and ensure that students have the necessary classroom resources for learning. OfficeMax’s annual A Day Made Better program aims to help.
This October, Steve Parmley from Strauch School and Cathy Norman from Smythe Academy were the lucky recipients of $1,000 worth of school supplies from local OfficeMax stores. The teachers, who both happen to teach second grade in Twin Rivers, were nominated by their school principal or vice principal for demonstrating passion, dedication, and innovation in the classroom.
Each teacher received a digital camera, swivel chair, and large box containing essential classroom supplies – a total donation valued at $1,000. To ensure the donation matches the demand for classroom supplies, OfficeMax surveyed teachers and school administrators on their greatest needs.
In her nomination statement, Strauch School’s Vice Principal Gewon Richards writes that, “Steve Parmley has been a dedicated teacher for over 33 years. He has unselfishly served our students by spending time before and after school tutoring. Steve sets the bar high for all of his students and refuses to accept substandard or marginal performances.”
Principal Linda Kyle from the Smythe Academy nominated Cathy Norman. Cathy earned the title of Teacher of the Year for the 2010-11 school year at Smythe Academy. According to a former student, "Ms. Norman has always been an outstanding teacher, who does not just teach math, language arts, social studies, but she is always there for people and for their problems they experience outside of school. Even on her worst days, she always has a smile on her face.”
A Day Made Better is an annual cause event that seeks to reward and recognize extraordinary teachers for their hard work in the classroom and encourage support for teachers across the country. Since 2007, OfficeMax’s A Day Made Better and Adopt-A-Classroom have funded more than 4,500 classrooms with more than $4.5 million in grants and school supplies, and helped secure funding for more than 66,000 classrooms annually through donations to Adopt-A-Classroom.