The Educators Rising club hosted a book drive from March 26 to March 1 to collect elementary and middle school level books. Donations go to schools with less resources to ensure all children have access to a wide variety of books.
“Students look up in the Frederick County Public School system what schools are in the most need. They do a lot of research on what schools have a higher percentage of low income families… they usually pick anywhere from 6-10 schools, and they email the reading specialists and ask them if they want books,” Mrs. Teresa Kenney, the Educators Rising club advisor, explained.
She emphasized that club activities are student driven. Members are responsible for deciding what events to do, planning, and communication. Junior Sabrinna Wentz was involved in sending out the emails to literacy specialists this year, and Senior Sophia Engel was responsible for advertising. While they sent books to most of the same schools this year as they did in years past, they added a few new schools that club members have connections with.
“We have some schools that we’ve repeatedly given books to, they know that we’re coming back year and year again. Sometimes we try and diversify it, like ‘hey we’ve never tried it, let’s see if this school needs books.’ The only school we’ve given to every year so far is Lincoln Elementary, they are definitely a school that’s in need and their reading specialist is excited to work with us,” shared Kenney.
To spread the word and gather donations, members promoted the drive around school. “We usually make a trailer that we put on the announcements, we have posters that are up around the school, we all posted a flier on our instagrams and social media,” Engel stated.
In addition to advertising, they hosted a competition between classes which teachers could sign up for. The class who collected the most books won a prize. Some club members also put donation boxes in their neighborhoods to broaden the collection.
On top of the book drive, the educators rising club sold candy grams and gobble grams in the fall as a fundraiser, and organized gifts and events for teacher appreciation week. Two years ago the club organized a breakfast before school in the teachers lounge to show their appreciation.
“Last year we had made little dum dum things and we wrote ‘thanks for teaching us so we’re not dum dums’ and gave them the little lollipops,” Wentz noted.
The educators rising club provides an opportunity for students to learn more about the education field and get involved in helping their community.
