Walmart gives ‘Teacher of the Year’ gift card for supplies
During a surprise visit to R.L. Stevenson Elementary School on Monday, Walmart representatives surprised teacher Sara Line with a $490 gift card.
That’s the average amount that teachers spend of their own money on their classrooms each year, according to an estimate by the National Retail Federation.
Walmart officials also handed Line a bouquet of flowers during the morning assembly in their recognition of her for being named one of 16 Teachers of the Year in Los Angeles County.
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But after receiving the gift, the fourth-grade teacher decided to pay it forward.
Line donated the gift card to Stevenson’s Parent Teacher Assn.
An 11-year teacher, Line was named Teacher of the Year last month, in part because of how she encourages her students to take risks and use mistakes as opportunities to grow.
She was one of 75 teachers across the state to earn the recognition, but Line credits her fellow teachers and her students’ families for guiding her over the years, saying they’re the reason “I am even receiving these accolades.”
“I have had the privilege of working with and learning from exceptional teachers, especially my grade-level teammates, Kelli Clarke, and Colleen Flores,” she said.
She also pointed to the strong partnerships she’s built with her students’ family members.
“I firmly believe that when teachers and family members work together, students benefit and thrive,” Line said. “It was a no-brainer that I should share the wealth so that the whole school could benefit from Walmart’s thoughtful gift. I’m sure that our PTA members will put the gift to good use.”
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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
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