 We often talk about the basic supplies that are crucial for student success, but outside of the paper and pencils there are several classroom-changing items that improve the learning experience.
Cheri Camacho, a Second Grade teacher at Grassy Creek Elementary, shared with us one of her recent treasured finds. "A few weeks ago, I found a "treasure" leaning up against the wall at Teachers' Treasures (8 foot long table)," she wrote. "It needed a little repair that my husband completed with two nuts and bolts! Now my students have a special place to work on their Chromebooks. Thank you Teachers' Treasures!" If you're office is going through a period of spring cleaning, we hope you'll consider giving new life to furniture no longer needed by donating it to Teachers' Treasures. Thank you, Cheri, for giving us a peek in your classroom! If you're interested in learning more about our donation opportunities, please click here.
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 Our volunteers are a huge part of our day-to-day operations. They keep the store in excellent shape and provide a wonderful experience to our teacher shoppers each week. That's why we're happy to introduce you to some of our hard-working volunteers on the blog to say thanks! This month, meet Imelda O'Connor.
How long have you volunteered at Teachers' Treasures? I only started volunteering this year beginning in February - so I've only been around for about seven weeks, although it seems longer than that. I feel very much at home amongst the bookshelves. What do you typically do when you’re here? I am still learning the ropes, and the training wheels are still very much on: I guess I am the Book Lady in Training. So mainly sorting/categorizing, shelving/displaying reading materials, books, professional teaching resources, DVDs etc. What’s your favorite part of volunteering? I absolutely know I have found my home at Teacher's Treasures. I had been searching for a volunteer opportunity for a while and I just knew this was exactly what I wanted to do. Every individual who works or volunteers for TTs is so invested in the mission of helping teachers teach and children learn. I am sure all the teachers who frequent the store on shopping days feel that too. I love to come into the store after a shopping day to see the shelves are empty of a particular title or series we had on display. My girls have always been avid readers - so I am very fortunate in recognizing the 'hot stuff' when it comes to good reads. What do you do outside of Teachers’ Treasures? I am Mom to three incredibly amazing and exhausting teenagers . . . so as we parents all know that usually consists of being everything from Taxi driver, to banker, mender/fixer, teen counselor, STEM homework expert, cook and domestic slave so to speak. When time permits I love to go to the movies, music concerts, travel, volunteering with Girl Scouting activities and trying to squeeze in trips to England to visit with my Mom when possible. Obviously we’re big fans of teachers! Who is a teacher that made an impact on your life? I cannot recall one teacher in particular; however, I would like to share that I have seen the lifelong impact that so many teachers have had on my girls throughout the years. It is something to see that my daughter's graduation guest list is so far half-filled with invitations to all the teachers who have helped her on her journey to the Class of 2016. This speaks volumes to me. I am sure we will all agree - we all have that one special teacher who left an indelible footprint. Thank you for sharing your story and for all of your hard work at Teachers' Treasures, Imelda! Visit our Volunteer page to learn more about our current opportunities to get involved.  In addition to presenting three Teacher of the Year awards during our Dream Big event, we also took a moment to recognize a dedicated community member for their outstanding commitment to improving educational opportunities for children in the community. This year we were honored to name Heather Hall, Sun King Brewing’s Vice President of Community Development, our 2016 Caring Spirit Award recipient.
Heather’s career began in education as a junior high social studies teacher. Her passion for teachers, classrooms, and students has grown with her work both professionally and personally. It is Heather’s hands-on approach to helping non-profits that is what is most notable. She takes all of her volunteer responsibilities very seriously and encourages others to the same, demonstrating servant leadership on a daily basis. In Heather’s tenure in her role at Sun King, she has joined the board of IPS Educational Foundation, the Junior League of Indianapolis, Habitat for Humanity, and Second Helpings and active roles with the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indiana State Museum, the Day Nursery, the Indianapolis Zoo, and the Benjamin Harris Historic Site. “I am humbled by this recognition from Teachers’ Treasures,” said Hall. “My community serve pales in comparison to what educators do in classrooms every day. I am grateful that an organization like Teachers’ Treasures exists to support the students and educators in our community. I am deeply moved to be honored by this vital organization.” “We are privileged to have such a strong mission-based leader here in Indianapolis influencing the community’s educational process and non-profit activities,” said Teachers’ Treasures Board Member Michael Ault. “Heather is a creative, passionate, and transformational leader and has become a woman of influence. We’re thrilled to be honoring her.” Congratulations, Heather!  Our March 3 Dream Big event featured one of the highlights of our year--the Teacher of the Year awards. This week we're introducing all three award recipients on our blog.
Peggy McNeill Owens, a First Grade Teacher at Snacks Crossing Elementary, received the honor of being our Teacher of the Year winner. With this award she received a $2500 cash prize to be used as a personal reward (courtesy of the Slaughter family) and a $4000 scholarship from the American College of Education. Congratulations! According to this year’s Teacher of the Year, her 34 year career as an educator began when, as a child, she taught her dolls and cats in an imaginary classroom. With past teachers as role models, Owens has dedicated herself to the profession and to her students, becoming an exceptionally caring, skillful, articulate, creative, respected and selfless educator in Pike Township and the Snacks Crossing Elementary School community. A one-of-a-kind educator, she inspires all of her students to learn at their full potential and has transformed the lives of hundreds of students with her willingness to do anything, without hesitation, to help them. Her above-and-beyond actions have included taking personal time to go to the home of and tutor a terminally ill student, even securing a translator to translate medical records and reports for the student’s Spanish-speaking mother, whom she befriended and took to dinner and Christmas shopping. For another student facing the challenges of ADHD and emotional issues, she created a reward system called “drops of joy,” in which she added colored drops in a glass when she saw him doing the right thing in the classroom. By middle school he was an honor roll student and started helping other students with reading. Students who enter her classroom find an educator for life. When a former student fell ill, she visited his house each day to help him keep up even though he had moved on to the fourth grade. Another student who was having trouble in his eighth grade math class told his mother “Mrs. Owners would be able to help.” With one phone call she drove to the student’s house to help him. Her generosity has transformed the lives of her students. Not only does she give her time, but she makes sure her students are warm and clothed, providing coats, shoes, boots, and handmade scarves when needed. Each student receives a book on their birthday. A community of former students and their kids, often exceeding 200 in number, attend her annual Halloween cookout. Parents and her colleagues readily testify of Owen’s creativity in her classroom and how she uses what she finds at Teachers’ Treasures in unique ways that go beyond meeting her students’ basic supply needs. She’s added library envelopes to an old Twister game to transform it into a way to teach compound words. Repurposed balls teach sight words and the pockets from cast-off blue jeans and craft sticks becomes a picture matching game. Owen’s creativity has even transformed her love of flat-track roller derby into a science lesson about simple machines and basic physics. Owen not only teaches creatively and compassionately, but she also teaches by example, providing service learning opportunities for her classroom. Elderly residents at Robin Run receive handmade gifts from her students. An “adopted” soldier receives letters and care packages for her kids. Students pool their pennies to buy honeybees for a Honduran family through Heifer International. Giving back becomes just as big a part of their education as reading and math. Owen’s exceptional dedication to her students past and present is evident by all. Her years touching the lives of students and their families, her colleagues, and the community have made her an exceptional candidate for this award. We are thrilled to recognize her as our 2016 Teacher of the Year! Congratulations!  Our March 3 Dream Big event featured one of the highlights of our year--the Teacher of the Year awards. This week we're introducing all three award recipients on our blog.
Jake McDuffee, a First Grade Teacher at Winchester Village Elementary, received our Teach Like a Champion Award. With this honor he received a $1250 cash prize to be used as a personal reward (courtesy of the Slaughter family) and a $2000 scholarship from the American College of Education. Congratulations! Jake McDuffee has spent his 14-year career a dedicated champion of the transformative power of reading, both as a grade school teacher and literacy coach. McDuffee served as a key player in developing a district-wide literacy program that led to the implementation of small group reading strategies for struggling readers in Perry Township grade school classrooms. As a peer leader he trained fellow teachers in long-term reading and writing strategies. Inside his classroom he’s faced with a handful of significant challenges, one of them being that his classroom literally has no walls. But with an achievement-driven mindset he is able to champion his students to overcome the distractions and focus on their learning. One of the biggest challenges is that 65% of his students are English Language Learners, many Myanmar refugees from a language with over 20 dialects. A high number of his students aren’t only able to understand him, but each other. But McDuffee sees the challenge as a positive, viewing Winchester Village as more like an “International School." McDuffee turns to Teachers’ Treasures to overcome both the barriers of teaching English and making sure his students have the supplies they need to succeed. He produces special reading and writing lesson packets to send home, and to ensure there is no excuse to not complete the lessons, he also sends with them every tool they need to finish. This has not only motivated the students but many of their parents, encouraging them to learn to read and write in English alongside their student. Many Winchester Village teachers and staff have praised McDuffee as an educator who tirelessly works to provide support and resources to his students. His seemingly small act of providing supplies has given them the confidence they need to walk into the classroom while understanding the value of education. Duffy’s resourcefulness, creativity, positive outlook, and ability to inspire his students and their families are just a handful of reasons we are proud to honor him as a Teach Like a Champion award recipient. Congratulations! |
Teachers' TreasuresTeachers' Treasures supports Indianapolis area teachers and students in need by distributing free school supplies through our teacher store. Learn more here. Archives
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