By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
Teachers and aides at Ward 8’s Moten Elementary School just received more than $15,000 in classroom gifts from Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins. The WNBA player teamed up with the Lids Foundation, a philanthropic organization that provides direct support to local communities and other charitable nonprofits, to surprise the educators during an assembly on Sept. 16.
This is Atkin’s second time organizing a teacher appreciation celebration in the District.
(Photo courtesy of D.C. State Board of Education)
“Our goal is to show gratitude to teachers and their aides by providing them with essential classroom items that could enhance their classroom environment, as well as the student’s experience,” said Atkins, in a statement. “We want them to feel appreciated and valued for the undeniable impact they make every day on their students.”
The classroom gifts included general school supplies, decor, bean bag chairs, twinkle lights and interactive rugs. Teachers and aides also received Visa gift cards to splurge on themselves and Lids store gift cards to give out to students as classroom prizes.
Moten Elementary Principal Akela Dogbe, who covertly retrieved wishlists from the educators, said the celebration came at the perfect time.
“My teachers deserve to feel special,” said Dogbe. “It was great to be able to celebrate them now because this is about the fourth week of school for us. People start counting down to Thanksgiving break, and the excitement of a new school year has kind of worn off.”
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 94 percent of teachers dip into their pockets to purchase classroom supplies. On average, educators in urban communities spend $529 each school year.
Dogbe said the school provides basic materials, like paper, pens and pencils. But, other personalized items that foster a warm, welcoming environment are left to the teachers to buy. Cultivating a comfortable environment in the classroom is important for students, according to the principal.
“We always operate under the impression that the classroom is the second teacher,” said Dogbe. “Kids want to be in pretty spaces just like adults do. Infusing more colors, more places where they can lounge around and do their work and more flexible seating makes the experience better for them.”
Dogbe disguised the assembly as a celebration for Moten Elementary’s performance on the 2023 D.C. Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). The school climbed 12 points in mathematics and eight points in English language arts.
Dogbe said it has not made gains like that since before the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in learning loss for elementary and other students across the country.
“We’re going to keep soaring and doing the things we know work. We’re going to keep having amazing tier-one instruction in our classrooms that are now so beautifully decorated,” said Dogbe. “We’re going to keep offering high-impact tutoring for every student in the building, and we’re going to keep climbing.”
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