Jeanette Pagel, a Thornydale Elementary School teacher, received more than $1,000 in school supplies this week, to her surprise, as part of "A Day Made Better."
Three representatives from the OfficeMax at West Ina and North Thornydale roads delivered a large box of supplies to Pagel's classroom Tuesday morning.
Pagel's sixth-grade students cheered and applauded as she removed items from the box.
"I'm just flabbergasted," she said. "I'm absolutely amazed."
OfficeMax joined with Adopt-a-Classroom, a national organization that connects teachers with community partners and funds, to award more than 1,100 teachers nationwide with more than $1,000 in school supplies each during the one-day "A Day Made Better" event.
The supplies included copy paper, Post-it notes, pencil sharpeners, paper clips, glue sticks, a label maker, a desk chair and a digital camera.
People are also reading…
"It's stuff you want to get during the course of the year, but you know you're limited with your own budget," she said. "Every year you spend your own money, so this is just fantastic."
OfficeMax employees Robert Folino, Stephanie Bell and Julie Stephenson delivered the supplies.
Folino, who manages the 7081 N. Thornydale Road location, said OfficeMax recognizes that teachers often spend their own money to buy classroom supplies.
Thornydale Associate Principal Skyler Rodolph wrote Pagel's nomination.
He wrote: "Her hard work and dedication to the students of Thornydale is exemplified by the academic success of her students."
Pagel has taught a different grade level every year she has been at Thornydale, 7651 N. Oldfather Drive.
Now in her third year at the school, Pagel teaches sixth-graders. She taught fourth- and fifth-graders the previous two years.
She taught fourth- and fifth-graders earlier this school year due to enrollment issues before being assigned a sixth-grade class permanently.
"She has kept a positive attitude this entire time and stayed committed 100 percent," Rodolph said Tuesday of Pagel's reassignments.
Pagel has settled in nicely with her sixth-graders.
"This is a great group of kids, and I'm excited we are sharing sixth grade together," she said.
Her sixth-graders are just as fond of her, and agreed that she deserved the school supplies.
"Mrs. Pagel is a nice teacher. She's my best teacher in the world," 12-year-old Angel Serrano said. "She earned it because she works a lot and makes us better students."
Added 11-year-old Taylor Davis: "She disciplines us when we need disciplining, and she helps us in math and reading."
