Sherry Singer, Morton Ranch Elementary Financial Clerk; Deb Hubble, Principal; Linda Jordan, Secretary; and Robert French, Science Teacher Grade K-2 shown here on the new teachers’ lounge sofa donated by Gallery Furniture. Photo by Debi Beauregard.
Sherry Singer, financial clerk at Morton Ranch Elementary was speaking with Robert French, science teacher while passing by the teachers break room and discussing how to come up with the money for new or slightly used furniture for the room. French said, “Why not write to Gallery Furniture and see what they say? What’s it going to hurt?” Singer thought, “why not it is worth a try?”
Singer sent this letter to Gallery Furniture:
Good morning,
I am writing to see if possibly you could assist our School, Morton Ranch Elementary, in Katy, Texas. As you are aware we use our funds for education and there is not room left for extras. I have attached pictures of our Teachers’ Lounge.
Maybe you have some scratched and dented items that we could get for far less. Well, it is just a thought and I know how you take pride in our community and state.
Thanks for considering us for assistance.
Sherry Singer,
Morton Ranch Elementary School
Singer told The Katy News that the furniture in the room was donated to the school when it opened more than eight years ago. “I was really surprised when Loyd Dias from Gallery Furniture called and asked when we could come out to pick out the furniture,” said Singer. At this point, “I was doing the Happy Dance all over the school,” she continued. She then went to the principal to come up with a date that they could go out to the Gallery Furniture store on the Grand Parkway to pick out the furniture.
On Monday, February 6th, a group from Morton Ranch Elementary went to Gallery Furniture to pick out the furniture. The furniture is being donated to the school.
On Monday, February 6th, Sherry Singer, Financial Clerk; Deb Hubble, Principal; Linda Jordan, Secretary; and Robert French, Science Teacher Grade K-2 all went to Gallery Furniture where they were met by Steve Salazar. Salazar showed them the work going on in the Atrium then took them back to the living room furniture. When he walked up to a Leather Sofa and Side Chair, Salazar said, “This is what we have picked out for you to take back to your teacher’s lounge.” There was so much excitement as they didn’t expect that. Salazar then set about getting everything set up to deliver the furniture the next day.
Singer says that there are 85 teachers that use this lounge throughout the day. Most of the teachers eat their lunches in the lounge with lunch periods beginning at 10:30 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. The teachers use the lounge while the students are in the cafeteria having their lunch. The lounge is conveniently located across from the cafeteria where the teacher drop the students off with the lunch monitors and then pick them up when their lunch period is over.
All of this was done as a surprise to the teachers who had no idea that this was happening. What a wonderful surprise it is to be able to create a better space for our teachers to take their breaks in during their intensive days. Go to www.tkn2017newthm.wpengine.com where you can see the before and after photos of the room along with the reactions of the teachers.