NORTH TEXAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – Educators across the Metroplex are hoping North Texans participate in a benefit to raise money for Teach for America DFW.
The organization offers supportive programs for teachers to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed through education.
TFADFW partnered with Kendra Scott Jewelry store and 20 percent of proceeds from next Monday and Tuesday will help fund their programs.
Dallas ISD teacher Genesis Castillo teaches at John Quincy Adams Elementary School and said her job has been harder than ever amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Specifically, in the community where I teach I know there’s a big technology gap and so, I think just feeling like there’s no control over situation but we want to have control over the situation. It’s just feeling overwhelmed,” she said.
Castillo said teachers need more support than usual to give students a strong foundation.
“Our students are our future leaders. So, we’ve got to model for them the best way to lead even in uncertain situations,” said Castillo.
Teach For America’s Kaleigh Finn said the money from the benefit is vital to helping the organization gives teachers the support they need.
“It’s going to help us continue to provide coaching for the teachers, support for them as they build their lessons for the school year and encouragement for them as they go through a really challenging time,” she said.
The benefit kicks off on World Teachers Day October 5th, when citizens pay homage to their favorite educators.
Castillo said this year’s holiday will be an emotional one but it’s made her remember why she became an educator.
“Sometimes as a teacher you’re scared but you show up as a leader for your kids. So, this year it makes me feel appreciated because we’re going through a very different experience than we’ve experienced in past years,” she said.
Finn said she too believes this year is more poignant than most and said the organization’s theme is “Leading Through Crisis.”
“I think everyone can agree that this year is unlike any other… it’s the most challenging that teachers have ever faced and although things are really hard I think so many people are really inspired by the resilience of teachers who say ‘this isn’t a perfect situation but I am going to find a way to make it great for kids’,” she said.
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