Volunteers
Revitalize Virginia
school in Annual 'Outreach to Teach'
Educators put
down their pencils
and pick up shovels for a good cause
 WASHINGTON-More
than 300 college students, teachers, retired educators, higher education
faculty and education support professionals picked up shovels and dug in
to give a needy, local school a much needed facelift on June 27.
The NEA Student Program's "Outreach to Teach" descended on
Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., where NEA members grabbed
hammers, shovels, brushes or mops to repair, landscape, paint, clean and
decorate the school. Students from as far away as Hawaii participated.
The award winning "Outreach to Teach" is celebrating its 13th year of
community service. Each year, a high-needs public school located in the
host city of the NEA Annual Meeting is selected to receive a free
makeover-thanks to hundreds of NEA volunteers.
"Picking up a shovel or a paint brush to beautify a school is a
powerful personal investment for these member volunteers," NEA President
Reg Weaver said. "NEA members believe it's important to do more than just
talk about improving the facilities where teaching and learning takes
place. We believe it's important to show our commitment to great public
schools by actually making school facilities better. Ultimately, it takes
state lawmakers and local school boards making meaningful investments to
ensure every child's right to a great education. It is our hope that this
example of NEA members from around the country joining together to make a
difference will convince decision makers that, working together, we can
truly make a difference for students."
 Wakefield High School is located in Arlington, Va., and was built in
1952. The school is home to approximately 1,500 students and 150
teachers. Reflecting the national capital area, Wakefield High School's
richly diverse student body-approximately 40 percent Hispanic, 30 percent
Black, and 15 percent Caucasian-provides students the benefit of learning
with peers from around the world on a daily basis. This multicultural
aspect is just one of the unique features of Wakefield.
"Wakefield High School is pleased to be the recipient of this year's
NEA 'Outreach to Teach' project," said Doris B. Jackson, Wakefield
principal. "The improvements made enhance our building and grounds and
assure that students and teachers have an improved environment that will
allow them to learn and teach more effectively."
Jackson was named Arlington's Principal of the Year and also received
The Washington Post's Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.
 Outreach to Teach began in 1996 as a beautification project to give
back to schools. Past sites have included Philadelphia, Pa., Orlando,
Fla., New Orleans, La., Atlanta, Ga., Chicago, Ill., San Antonio, Texas,
Dallas, Texas, Compton, Calif., and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan
area. Since its inception, participation has increased by more than 1,000
percent.
"It is an awesome privilege to be a part of the 'Outreach to Teach'
program," said Anthony Daniels, NEA Student Program chair. "It brings me a
tremendous amount of joy to know we are turning the page on schools that
are unsafe and unhealthy. As a result, we are moving that much closer to
fulfilling the pledge to provide every child with a quality education."
"Watching our student and retired members working together for the
common good makes me very proud to be a part of the NEA family," said
Barbara Matteson, NEA-Retired Program chair. "Providing encouragement and
support to our student members will help keep public education strong."
Generous donations were given by JCPenney, The Home Depot, Barnes &
Noble, the Arlington Education Association and NEA Member Benefits.
Photos
from the 2008 Student Leadership Conference
|
