Teachers have big plans for their special gifts

By Mary-Justine Lanyon

The cafeteria at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School was buzzing with excitement.

The students, teachers and staff had gathered for a special assembly. None of them were quite sure what was going to happen but they knew 10 teachers were in for a big surprise.

County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre was there as was Corporal Alisha Rosa from the Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association (SEBA). 

They were there to present 10 of VOE’s teachers with $250 gift cards.

The county superintendent’s office, in collaboration with SEBA, had selected 16 schools in San Bernardino County where teachers would receive these gift cards.

“We have some exciting news,” Principal Bethany Negersmith told the students, teachers and staff. “Our school was chosen for Shop with a Cop – Teachers’ Edition.”

“I am so proud of your school, our outstanding teachers and your parents who do so much work,” said Rim Superintendent Dr. Paul Sevillano.

Alejandre added, “You all looked ready to learn as you came in. This is one of the best schools in San Bernardino County.

“How many of you remember distance learning?” There was some groaning from the older students. “Your teachers kept you connected,” Alejandre said. “There are two things to remember to be successful: Read every single day – the more you read, the better student you will be. And there is one person to listen to – your teacher. They will do everything to help you be successful.”

Rosa posed a question to the students: “Is your teacher the best in the school? Raise your hand.” All the hands in the cafeteria shot up as the students cheered.

Although the congratulatory message to Principal Negersmith had said she had the discretion to select the 10 teachers, she did not want to shoulder that responsibility. Instead, she asked her teachers to each write how they would use the $250. The entire staff then voted and the top 10 were chosen. As for who was selected, that was kept a surprise until Negersmith called them up one by one. Two of the teachers were absent as they were attending some district training.

The 10 recipients and how they plan to use their gifts are:

• Sydney McCook (TK/K) – I would like to fill my sensory bin with actual sensory items like sand, rice, feed corn. I would also purchase sensory table tools like funnels, jugs, spinners and bins to store it all.

• Amanda Hawley (K) – I would use the $250 to purchase a new beginner’s basketball hoop for the kindergarten playground. Ours was vandalized and is no longer usable. 

• Veronica Mcgilvery (1^st) – Trout in the Classroom is a community partnership between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and our local Deep Creek Fly Fishing Club. It is a hands-on and integrated approach to teaching the Next Gen science standards, math, literacy and ecology. It engages students in meaningful ecology and supports the understanding and importance of being good stewards of fish, their habitat and the environment.

• Tracy Cairns (2^nd) – I would purchase mini coding robots for my class. With these robots, students can create movements for the robots by working together on a coding app to compete against other groups in races and competitive movements. The mini robots are suitable for beginners in coding and students who think outside the box will benefit from this tool. It is definitely a STEM project.

• Amelia Kirschner (5^th) – As a newer teacher, this gift would help me give my students a chance to curate an engaging and current classroom library that better meets individual interests and reading levels. Creating an opportunity to light up dormant readers by giving them choices and access to a variety of books and genres would make a difference in our classroom.

• Stephanie Plemons (5^th) – I would like to purchase dissection materials for my entire grade level (90 students) to host a “dissection day.” The materials will include approximately 30 River Barb fish, 30 squid and 30 owl pellets (I already have the dissection tools). Students will receive three standard Life Science lessons and then the dissection in each of the three classrooms. Students will be in groups of four while they dissect. Our students LOVE hands-on science lessons.

• Christina Burkitt (5^th) – I would like to purchase a set of ultra-thin light pads for my classroom. These hands-on small tablets can be used individually at students’ desks to trace maps (states and capitals), cursive letters, calligraphy for advanced students and art projects. Students may also use them to trace systems for science and math. Many students use recess minutes to doodle in notebooks and work on cartoon art. Incorporating these into my lessons and utilizing them for individualized art interests will help students feel valued.

• Tayna Romero (Special Day Class) – I would use SEBA’s donation to fund hands-on science experiments. These experiments can foster curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun way. Some of the ideas I have in mind are Earth Day lava lamps, water balloon parachutes and solar oven s’mores.

• Danielle Moore (SDC) – Swinging for a few minutes can raise endorphin levels and wake a sleepy body and brain. It increases blood flow, including flow to the head, which studies show improves focus and attention. Sensory swings are a specialized therapeutic toy that has become a powerful calming agent for kids with autism. If I had $250, I would incorporate a variety of sensory swings into my classroom routine, including a standing swing, a platform swing and a bucket seat swing.

• Jessie Redmon (Speech) – I would use the money to help with the expensive endeavor of expanding my materials arsenal. As a newbie to the education world, I have been slowly but surely gathering materials to help target the goals, needs and interests of my diverse student caseload, from the SPED kiddos with sensory needs to my wild little TKers all the way to 4/5^th graders who are too cool for school.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Capt. Craig Harris and Lt. Mauricio Hurtado of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station.

Lisa Garcia of the county superintendent’s office noted that “160 teachers will receive this recognition, amounting to $40,000 in support for our educators. It is estimated that approximately 4,000 students countywide will directly benefit from this program, creating a ripple effect of positive impact throughout our educational community.”