In recognition of the fact that teachers give so much to their students, Fulton Walmart associates selected the staff of Bartley Elementary School as recipients of this year's Teacher Rewards program.
Twenty teachers' names were drawn during the school's monthly Positive Behavior Support (PBS) assembly Thursday afternoon, each of them receiving a $50 Walmart gift card.
"We want to thank the administration and acknowledge the dedication and sacrifices the teachers here at Bartley make," Robert Mays, manager of the Fulton Walmart, said during the assembly. "Today we're honored to give away $1,000 ... get classroom supplies, snacks and anything else you need to get the school year started off right."
Mays later added that the Teacher Rewards program - in which local associates vote on a particular school to receive rewards each year - is something the Fulton store employees enjoy participating in because "we want to make sure (the teachers) are taken care of because they take care of our future leaders."
Bartley Principal Connie Epperson said programs that recognize and reward teachers are always welcome.
"Our teachers pay a lot out of pocket, and this gift will be a great help," Epperson said. "Teachers sacrifice a lot, whether it's their time or their money. They always give to their classrooms and students to make sure they have the best."
Art teacher Allen Spencer agreed that he has spent "quite a bit" of his own money over the years, and said the gift cards are a nice "thank you" because they can be used to cover some of the smaller things - like markers, aluminum foil and plastic bags - that have been slowly cut from the budget as money has gotten tight.
"I'll probably end up getting Sharpies, and I'm running low on markers," Spencer said of his plans for his gift card.
Kindergarten teacher Robyn Frame said she also already has plans for her $50.
"I was thinking I was going to buy snacks for the kids," Frame said. "We do have some money donated by parents, but it's never enough. I want to get the kids something different."
She said she felt honored that Walmart would think of making such a gift to teachers.
"We do spend a lot of our own money," Frame said. "We give back every day, and it's nice they're giving back to us."
Katherine Cummins can be reached at (573) 826-2418 or [email protected].