Published May 14, 2008 09:48 pm - Sure, last week was Teacher Appreciation Week, but some area teachers were surprised to find out just how appreciated they really are.
Brenda McKinley said she was expecting her boss, Jennifer Schuler of Jack and Jill Learning Center, to pick her up for the wrap-up of Teacher Appreciation Week on Saturday.
Teachers really appreciated
By Travina Coleman
Phoenix Staff Writer
Sure, last week was Teacher Appreciation Week, but some area teachers were surprised to find out just how appreciated they really are.
Brenda McKinley said she was expecting her boss, Jennifer Schuler of Jack and Jill Learning Center, to pick her up for the wrap-up of Teacher Appreciation Week on Saturday.
Instead, a white limousine pulled up. McKinley said she was shocked.
“They had given us pick-up schedules,” she said. “I thought Jennifer and her husband would be picking me up. We were very surprised.”
McKinley has been at Jack and Jill’s Learning Center for more than eight years.
She won best dressed for her Captain Jack Sparrow costume during Halloween and best supporting actress. She is the cook for the center.
Jack and Jill owner Carolyn Downs said she and her daughter, Schuler, came up with the idea as a unique way to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.
“Jennifer and I worked on this together,” Downs said. “We had one parent donate the biggest part of the money. Our parents are awesome.”
Downs said Greg Mashburn of Mashburn Media did the video for the awards ceremony at the Bedouin Shrine Temple.
“We got Cowboy’s to cater the dinner, and the Shutterbug Camera Club came out as the paparazzi,” Downs said.
Camille Allen, another award winner, has been at the center for more than 13 years. She won Best leading actress, an award for behind the scenes, and the lifetime achievement award.
All three statuettes are sitting on top of her TV.
“We were trying to guess what they could have possibly been up to,” Allen said. “We didn’t even come close.”
Allen said the best part was the limousine ride to the party.
“The ride was absolutely amazing,” she said. “We have had some fun teacher weeks, but we really felt like stars.”