Konnoak Elementary Teachers Receive $50 Gift Cards from Sam's Club

Burnette and Keith with teachers who received gift cards

On Tuesday, the staff at Konnoak Elementary School started their day with a meeting before students arrived. After Principal Shelia Burnette covered such topics as the open house that is coming up, teachers received a welcome surprise.

Burnette announced that Ron Keith from Sam’s Club was there to give out $1,000 in gift cards as a way to say thank you for all that teachers do and to enable them to buy classroom supplies that they might otherwise have to pay for out of their own pockets.

“A lot of schools don’t get everything they need,” Keith said. “This is a way for us to help teachers cut down on what is coming out of own funds.”

Burnette said that she appreciated that he was there to say to educators, “You matter.”

Michael Dudley draws names

The $1,000 came in the form of 20 $50 gift cards that can be used at any Sam’s Club or Walmart. The cards were intended specifically for teachers to be spent on students to enhance instruction. Of the 66 staff members at Konnoak who are certified, the 20 card recipients included classroom, specials and Exceptional Children teachers.

So that everyone could leave with something, Keith, who is the membership team leader at the Sam’s Club on Hanes Mall Boulevard, had also brought 300 fruit roll ups and 300 bags of chips that people could have for their classrooms and such.

He also brought a sheet cake for everyone to enjoy on the spot.

Ron Keith

Burnette asked the newest teacher on the staff – Michael Dudley – to draw the names. The first name he drew was Kate Duffy. Dudley drew 19 more names and each of the teachers came to the front to pick up their gift cards.

When all the cards had been given out, Burnette thanked Keith again. “Thank you for ending our meeting on such a positive note,” she said.

Then it was time for those who wanted to have a piece of cake to have one before heading off to begin their day with students.

The Sam’s Club where Keith works has a history of supporting Konnoak. They have had fund-raiser basketball games in which a team made up of Konnoak staff members has played a team made up of people who work at Sam’s. Sam’s Club has provided food for teacher appreciation events and helped out in other ways as well.

“We have partnered with Konnoak for many years,” Keith said.