When SCUC Education Foundation members passed out envelopes to attendees of the district’s New Teacher Luncheon held on August 1, 2024, the majority of the audience had no inkling of the contents. Once they were given the green light to open the envelopes by Ms. Deanna Jackson, Executive Director for Communications & Community Engagement, it took about five seconds for the euphoria and applause to cascade throughout the dining hall after it had sunk in; they were each receiving a $75 Amazon gift card to defray the cost of school supplies in the classroom. The gesture on behalf of the Education Foundation conveyed the simple yet profound message. “You matter.”
“It was a wonderful surprise and I am deeply appreciative,” said Yolanda Maxwell, who is starting her first year as a first grade bilingual teacher at Schertz Elementary School. “It allowed me to purchase essential supplies, including educational tools, which significantly enhances my students’ learning.”
Elizabeth Gracia concurs. The Computer Science teacher at Byron P. Steele High School was able to make the $75 go a long way. “I was able to purchase some of my supplies as well as curtains for my classroom since I have an entire wall of interior windows. I think the Foundation has been great at supporting teachers and giving one more source of motivation.”
Veronica Goldhorn, VP of Development for the Education Foundation, reflected, “It was such a perfect opportunity to give these new teachers, who had been working and learning so much up to that, this grant. To see their faces light up when they opened their envelopes and to hear the wave of enthusiasm spread across the room just made my heart fill up with joy!”
Each gift card is worth $75 to be used as needed for their respective classrooms. In turn, the gratitude for the magnanimity is returned tenfold in gratitude. “The Foundation gets it,” said Issac Gipson, who was one of last year’s beneficiaries, as he was starting his first year as a Social Studies teacher at Byron P. Steele High School. “It allows the educator to go out and pick these things up they want for their classroom to ensure that it becomes an extension of where the student is coming from.”
Approximately 120 teachers received the gift card, which comes out to over $9,000 worth of goodwill, in keeping with the Education Foundation’s efforts to go “beyond the basics” and enhance the experiences for all students and staff at SCUC. “We want our newest employees to know they are valued and our mission is to support them to achieve their goal,” said Goldhorn.
New Teacher Supply Grants is just the first of what promises to be another eventful year for the SCUC Education Foundation. Eleven Innovative Teacher Grants spanning nine campuses were handed out at the Convocation on August 6th. On August 31st, the One Community Scholarship Night will kick off its second year. One senior from either Clemens HS or Steele HS will have two opportunities to boot a field goal no longer than twenty yards for a $2,000 scholarship with errant kicks still netting $500 for the student pre-selected at random.
Spring events promise more awards, greater recognition, and more first fruits from the benevolence of the Education Foundation, committed to making a profound difference in the lives of students, teachers, and staff.