As you have seen and read from my Better World Books colleagues, a few of us had the opportunity to visit the Santa Rosa School in Arizona. I had the opportunity help teachers set up classrooms, set-up computers, inflate playground balls, and interact with the families of the FACE program. It was amazing to see the impact that the teachers make on the children and more so, the dedication the teachers had for what they did is truly inspiring.
David Murphy and I had the chance to help one of the teachers set up her classroom. She had found out only a few days prior to our arrival that she would no longer be teaching 1st graders, but would actually have 5th grade students at the beginning of the school year. As you can imagine, it is quite a daunting task to convert a 1st grade classroom to one appropriate for 5th graders in just a few days.
David Murphy, CEO of BWB, adjusting desks. The classroom after the desks were adjusted.
At the start, David and I readjusted table heights for the new class. With only a day until school started, we helped transform the classroom from piles of desks and stacked boxes to a functioning room. But we definitely had the easy job. It was now up to the teacher to prepare the curriculum and teach the kids the entire year.
The trip was definitely an unforgettable experience and helps me appreciate all that I have. It also gives me some satisfaction that what we do here at Better World Books is at the very least able to help our organizations such as these.
