Harper-Archer media specialist Keisha Robinson named Symetra ‘Hero in the Classroom’

Join the club, Keisha Robinson! The Harper-Archer Middle School media specialist became the fourth APS teacher to join the ranks of the Symetra “Hero in the Classroom” group. The announcement came in an assembly at the school Tuesday that included the Atlanta Falcons and SunTrust Bank.

Robinson, Harper-Archer’s media specialist for 11 years, was nominated for the award by co-worker and administrative assistant Sandra Perrino. Principal Allison Marks her pride in how Robinson brings recognition to the school.  The media center staff of Robinson and Perrino has written grants that has won the school more than $10,000 this year.

Four APS teachers rewarded with $1,000 worth of school supplies from OfficeMax’s ‘A Day Made Better’

UPDATE: Check out these videos of Slater’s Gwendolyn Taylor here and here.

Four Atlanta Public Schools elementary teachers got a needed boost in their classrooms Tuesday when OfficeMax provided $1,000 worth of school supplies as part of their national “A Day Made Better” project. The recipients were Boyd’s Trina White, Fickett’s Merilyn Tickles, Slater’s Gwendolyn Taylor and West Manor’s Francine Ferguson.

Armed with flowers, a plaque and a large box of office supplies, representatives from OfficeMax flooded Taylor’s classroom, leading students in shouting, “Surprise!”
The supplies ranged from markers and notebooks to a new leather chair. Two gifts that got the most response were digital cameras and electric pencil sharpeners.

“I wish I were Ms. Taylor,” said one student as her teacher displayed each item. Each year, Office Max selects 1,000 winning educators around the country. Based on their research, teachers spend about $1,000 a year outfitting their classrooms with colorful signs, banners and other tools to enhance instruction.
“It is our way of giving back to the community,” said Todd McBride, national account manager for the office supply retailer. “It’s really awesome to be here and watch the kids’ expressions.”

Taylor, who has taught at Slater for the past five years, also serves as the school’s Teacher of the Year as well as a Project GRAD master teacher. While the supplies definitely made her day, she was eager to put them to use by returning to that lesson.

“Partnerships like this encourage our teachers to keep doing their best each day,” said Principal Selina Dukes-Walton. “Miss Taylor is a great ambassador for Slater Elementary.” On Wednesday, Slater will welcome the city’s top ambassador; Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is scheduled to attend the grand opening of Slater’s SunTrust Youth Bank.

Merilyn Tickles, a second-grade teacher at Fickett Elementary, was surprised by the OfficeMax A Day Made Better team along with her principal, Dr. Anthony Dorsey.  “I am just shocked and overwhelmed,” said Tickles, who has been an educator for 31 years, and seven of those years have been at Fickett.

Over at Boyd, Principal Emalyn Foreman was delighted for Trina White, whom she nominated. “She’s a very nurturing person who brings love and compassion to the kids everyday,” Foreman said of White, currently in her second year at Boyd. “No matter her students’ circumstances, she brings them under her wing and gives them what they need to succeed.”

West Manor P.E. teacher named a Symetra ‘Hero In the Classroom’

West Manor Elementary physical education teacher and Coach Constance Riley was named a Symetra “Hero in the Classroom” by the Atlanta Falcons and SunTrust Bank during a school wide assembly in the gym Tuesday.

(Check out the photo gallery here.)

Symetra Heroes in the Classroom, presented by SunTrust Bank, is a community program that recognizes 16 Georgia teachers for outstanding leadership and instructional skills during the Falcons season. Coach Riley was the first in the state of Georgia to be presented with this honor.  

Lee Epps of SunTrust Bank, Peyton Gallagher of the Falcons and Jennifer Whitman of Symetra Financial, along with mascot Freddie Falcon and two Falcons cheerleaders presented Coach Riley with a $1,000 donation for West Manor, a $250 gift card from OfficeMax for school supplies, a $100 gift card from SunTrust Bank, a “Heroes” award certificate, and two tickets to the Falcons home opener Sept. 19 against the Arizona Cardinals. She also received a jersey autographed by Falcons running back Michael Turner. In addition, Coach Riley is invited to participate in the pre-game VIP sideline experience for a special on-field presentation and video board recognition in her honor.

Two APS teachers get surprise visits from OfficeMax

Two teachers in the Atlanta Public Schools system got the most pleasant surprise of the new school year on Tuesday when OfficeMax provided each with $1,000 worth of supplies for the classrooms. White Elementary‘s Benita Edwards and Parkside Elementary‘s Ronnie Thomas had been nominated by their principals in the annual “A Day Made Better” sponsored by OfficeMax. Edwards (pictured above, in purple sweater) is a fifth grade reading and ELA teacher at White who has been teaching for six years in APS.  Last year she received Georgia Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox’s Award for Improvement in 5th Grade Reading.

In this program, schools across the nation receive $1 million worth of supplies in the form of basic things like paper all the way to printers and digital cameras. Some 1,000 teachers received the gift Tuesday.

Two APS teachers to be surprised with free school supplies on Oct. 6

Two Atlanta Public Schools elementary school teachers have been selected to receive more than $1,000 in classroom supplies as part of the annual “A Day Made Better” program by OfficeMax on Oct. 6.
 
White and Parkside elementary schools teachers were nominated by their principals, and are among more than 1,000 educators at schools across the country selected for the program, which distributes $1 million in school supplies.
 
Local OfficeMax employees will surprise the teachers at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 6.  News media representatives planning to cover the event should arrive at the schools no later than 9:30 a.m.
 
White Elementary School is located at 1890 Detroit Ave., NW, Atlanta 30314.
 
Parkside Elementary School is located at 685 Mercer St., SE, Atlanta 30312