First-Year Teachers Get Back-To-School Shopping Sprees

TEMPLE, Texas — More than fifty first-year Temple Independent School District teachers will be starting out the new semester with brand classroom supplies after participating in a back-to-school shopping spree on Wednesday (January 3).

Temple ISD treated the teachers to the shopping spree by using a generous donation from Garlyn Shelton, Temple. That donation was paired with grant funding from Texas A&M-Central Texas to provide each teacher with $75 to spend on supplies or other needs for their classrooms. The teachers filled their carts with everything from markers and notebooks to wipes and organizational supplies. Other teachers used the money to buy bookshelves or storage containers for their students to make use of when classes resume on Thursday.

The shopping spree was also another example of the community’s support of public education and TISD’s commitment to its first-year teachers.

“When Garlyn Shelton Nissan reached out to us about this donation, they expressed that this was their way of giving back to teachers and hoped it would be used to help offset out of pocket costs for them,” said Christine Parks, chief of communications and community relations for TISD. “We are so grateful to Garlyn Shelton for championing our teachers. Community support matters and it truly makes a difference in the lives of our staff and students.”

Alice Cox and Ravin Schulz were two of the first-year teachers taking advantage of the opportunity. The pair work together at Travis Science Academy, where Cox teaches sixth-grade language and literature, and Schulz teaches sixth-grade science. The duo shared a cart during their shopping spree and also share an appreciation for the district and community support as they look forward to starting off the second semester on the right foot.

“I am just so thankful that we have been given this opportunity to stock our classrooms and give our students what they need,” Cox said. “I look forward to continuing to build relationships with the students. I want to affirm them and show that I value them. I want to give them the tools they need for academic success.”

“I am so thankful to have support from the community and the district,” Schulz added. “As a first-year teacher, it really makes me feel like I am appreciated and they are giving me all the opportunities to help my kiddos be successful and learn. I am excited to see how the kids have grown and I am looking forward to being able to look back at the end of the year to see the progress they have made toward becoming seventh and eighth graders.”