Her Day Made Better

Teachers get a wide variety of surprises during the day and never know what is going to happen!  Karen Otremba (second grade teacher) was surprised today when a team from Office Max arrived with an "A Day Made Better" gift box". 

Teachers spend roughly $1,000 out of their own pockets each year to offset school budget shortfalls and ensure that their students have the necessary classroom resources for learning. OfficeMax’s A Day Made Better program, in partnership with Adopt-A-Classroom, aims to help end the need for teacher-funded classrooms. Most of the recipient teachers work at Title I schools, where at least 40 percent of the student body meets federal assistance criteria; at Sioux Trail 44% of our student qualify for free or reduced priced lunches.

Each year, OfficeMax and Adopt-A-Classroom work with school principals nationwide to select and recognize 1,000 deserving teachers with an A Day Made Better award and $1,000 in classroom supplies donated by OfficeMax. Principals can nominate a teacher based on 1) passion for teaching, 2) innovation in the classroom; and 3) dedication to the profession and the success of their students. If selected, OfficeMax associates join the principals on the first Tuesday each October with a surprise event to honor the teacher and present the donation. 

Karen received a digital camera, swivel chair, and large box containing essential classroom supplies – a total donation valued at $1,000.   In October, 2010 Katie Mulvahill was nominated and then selected to receive an "A Day Made Better" gift box from Office Max.  In addition to the donation to Mrs. Otremba and her students, Office Max also collected over $1,000 in donations from store patrons and donated that to Sioux Trail as well.  We will be distributing those materials to classrooms and to students who need school supplies. Please help keep this terrific tradition going, by supporting Office Mac and Adopt-A-Classroom.

Show your support for a teacher in your community through the following activities:

• Go to adoptaclassroom.org, select a classroom and donate needed items for the teacher and students to use.
• Surprise a deserving teacher in your community by donating your own A Day Made Better box filled with classroom supplies. Visit adoptaclassroom.org/better and chose from three box sizes, including a $25 starter kit, $50 classroom box or a $100 classroom box. Each branded A Day Made Better gift box comes with a variety of much-needed school supplies, an A Day Made Better t-shirt and instructions for selecting and conducting your own surprise event.