In 2008 Associated Services started the Classroom Scholarship Program with the goal of supporting Bay Area teachers who are teaching the kids of the Associated Services family. The program was inspired after a teacher approached an Associated employee for a small donation for her classroom. Over the years, it’s been expanded to teachers who are both connected and unconnected to people who work at Associated.
In the last ten years, Associated has provided over $100,000 of supplies, field trip funding, and other items to Bay Area teachers. We are proud that we’re making a difference for our local teachers and supporting them in their educational mission.
One of our most unique requests we have received was for 100 pumpkins to a local San Leandro School for the Kindergartners, which was an absolute blast.
2017 was our biggest year yet and we plan to continue our Classroom Scholarship Program for years to come.
Quick Facts (Updated 08-17-2018)
- According to federal data, nearly all public school teachers use their own money to gather school supplies, at an average cost of $479 a year, The Washington Post’s Moriah Balingit reported in May. About 7 percent of educators spend more than $1,000 a year on supplies.
- Elementary and secondary teachers are about 30 percent more likely to work at a second job, compared with workers in other professions, according to the Brookings Institution, citing Labor Department data.
- “The wave of teacher walkouts this spring made it clear that educators don’t get paid appropriately for the job they do,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers told The Post, adding that many teachers take second and even third jobs.
We already know that providing free food in the workplace is in itself a great morale booster. But what else should we pay attention to as office and HR managers to ensure that we attract and keep happy, productive, long-term employees? Hint – it’s the little things that go the furthest. Check out the top tips on improving office morale here.
