Mt. Vernon Elementary sends new teachers on shopping spree

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mt. Vernon Elementary Principal Nikishia Dixon said it is through community partnerships with private companies such as Office Depot that the Pinellas County school can supplement the student experience and help teachers with adequate resources.

For the past couple of weeks, teachers and administrators have been getting ready for the big Back to School Day on Monday.

Mt. Vernon Elementary welcomed their new teachers with a special surprise.

With donations from the local Office Depot store, Mt. Vernon surprised their newly hired educators with a $100 shopping spree.

From crayons to planning calendars and label makers, the teachers from Mt. Vernon shopped for their supplies ahead of the big day.

Madison Cossairt, a new first-grade teacher, got a nod of approval from Dixon when she looked at the items in the shopping cart.

Akela Harris, who is also a new teacher, described what it is like leading up to the first day.

“So, this is my favorite time of the year,” Harris said. “Back to school, it just brings me like to a Christmas feeling.”

And if it is like Christmas, Dixon is the one delivering presents.

Dixon handed out the gift certificates to about a dozen new teachers at her school.

She said it is to reassure the new hires.

“So, I want them to know that they made the right choice,” Dixon said. “I know I made the right choice, but they made the right choice by picking Mt. Vernon Elementary.”

Harris said it goes beyond helping the teachers.

“Some people look at it as the teachers are getting these supplies,” Harris said. “But really, it’s for the kids.”

After they finished shopping, the new teachers took a tour of their campus and unloaded their supplies to get their classrooms ready.

Atiana Mason, who is starting a third-grade class at Mt. Vernon, showed off her new supplies.

Cossairt got excited to make her new classroom cozy for her students.

They are good feelings, that Dixon said are simply priceless.

“The smiles and the faces of the kids, there’s no paycheck that can give me the feeling that that gives me,” Dixon said.

Dixon added the opportunities like the one her new teachers experienced make it all worth it.

Dixon said the community partners help Mt. Vernon every quarter with donations.