Sen. Allison DeGazon is hosting events to provide funding and supplies to teachers in the Virgin Islands to support them during the school year.
This Saturday at the Castle Burke Community Center, she will be hosting a prayer breakfast. Funds raised from the sale will go towards buying supplies for teachers. The event will begin at 8 a.m.
The senator is also hosting a classroom decoration competition. The winner of the competition will receive $200 as reimbursement for his or her efforts in preparing the classroom. The last chance for teachers to send photos of their decorated classrooms is Sunday, Sept. 15. Photos can be sent to adegazon@legvi.org.
According to DeGazon, there are several unmet needs in the community, and she wants to be able assist where children are concerned.
“Several teachers have reached out to me asking for assistance with supplies for their classrooms,” DeGazon said. The senator has reached out to other organizations for assistance to combine with her efforts and plans to make a list of needed items to donate.
“My goal is to build an inventory at several schools and then buy supplies for many teachers in need. Being ready for academic success starts at day one; for the children of this territory to be ready for that success, our teachers must be provided with the necessary tools and supplies for them.”
DeGazon said she recognizes that the start of the school year is a stressful time for teachers, families and children.
“Every year, these selfless educators come out of their own pockets, spending hundreds of dollars, to provide the best education to our children. At least 70 percent of teachers spend at least $200 of their own money to prepare their classrooms,” she said. “My goal is to help alleviate the stress and financial burden on teachers by providing tools for a successful school year.”
