Balsz School District surprised with $2,500 for each school from Fiesta Sports Foundation

The Fiesta Sports Foundation celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by handing out goody bags and major checks to every school in the Balsz School District.

The bags and $2,500 checks were distributed at Brunson-Lee Elementary School, David Crockett Elementary School, Griffith Elementary School and Tillman Middle School.

Sean Hannafin, principal at David Crockett Elementary School, said he was aware of the goody bags but shocked by the surprise of the $2,500 check. He said the additional funding means the school does not have to stretch its money as much.

“It can go anywhere from books to classroom supplies, so books that our students need to learn to be readers and whiteboard markers … it can go to just regular supplies that students need. We serve an underfunded group of students and so those are all things that they need,” Hannafin said.

Teachers at Balsz School District surprised with checks

All four schools are Title I schools, receiving additional federal funding due to the percentage of low-income students.

Sandra Avila, director of community engagement for the Fiesta Sports Foundation, said the goal is to show up and support the educators who make an impact in the community every day.

“We know that the $2,500 is going to be supporting the educational programming that’s happening in the schools, but we also know that appreciation is important and that that makes the difference in teacher burnout and teacher retention, so we wanted to come along with both things,” Avila said.

Avila said athletic directors and sports personnel from around the country backed the teacher appreciation bags during last week’s Fiesta Sports Spring Summit.

Want to show your support for a teacher in your life? Nominate them for our monthly Pay Tribute to a Teacher award here.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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