Leesburg Teachers 'Rewarded'LEESBURG - Ten Leesburg Elementary School teachers have $100 each to use for classroom supplies thanks to Walmart.
Tuesday afternoon, Warsaw Walmart Store Manager Gary Elders and Personnel Manager Shelly Alber announced Leesburg Elementary was the recipient of the new Teacher Rewards program at Walmart.
In past years, Elders told Leesburg Elementary during a school convocation, Walmart chose a Teacher of the Year as a way to give money to local classrooms and schools. This year, the program changed to the Teacher Rewards program.Nationally, the Teacher Rewards program will enable Walmart and Sam's Club to provide more than $4 million to 40,000 teachers across the United States.
"Walmart is committed to helping address unmet needs in the communities where we serve," said Elders in a prepared press release. "Our support for Warsaw Community Schools underscores this commitment, and we are hopeful that through the Teacher Rewards program, these educators will be able to purchase the materials needed for the new school year."
Elders told the Leesburg students that, on average, most teachers spend $500 of their own money for school supplies for their classrooms.
The new Teachers Rewards program is an extension of the retailer's ongoing support of education and local community involvement. In 2008, Walmart, Sam's Club and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $66 million to fund educational programs and scholarships in communities across the country.
Elders had 10 $100 Walmart gift cards in his hand Tuesday. Names of Leesburg teachers were put in a hat, and 10 were drawn out one by one by Leesburg Principal Randy Dahms. The 10 teachers whose names were drawn were Marsha Cook, Cindy Tabor, Teresa Jordan, Marc Andrews, Rod Teeple, Barb Marose, Krista Atkins, Amy Steger, Jason Ruler and Nathan Polston.
Even the teachers whose names were not drawn received a prize. Elders said every teacher will receive a tote bag with a little package of goodies inside.
Dahms told the Leesburg students to thank their teachers for all the time, energy and money they spend for them, as teachers do a lot for their students.
"You do need to appreciate your teachers," Elders agreed.
After the convocation, Dahms said, "We're just grateful to Walmart for their generosity. Our school is one where teachers care about our students, and to be able to spend this money on them will be great."
He said Leesburg was glad to be a part of this great community that does so much for its schools.
