Brinson Elementary Teachers Awarded Grants and Supplies to Enhance Learning
Six teachers at Brinson Memorial Elementary in New Bern, North Carolina, received unexpected support on September 29, 2023, as part of the Subaru Loves Learning grant program. Each teacher was awarded a $500 grant along with essential school supplies to enhance their classrooms.
During the school day, Ainsley Munro, Love Promise coordinator and customer relations specialist at Riverside Subaru, and sales professional Mark Nesser presented the grants and supplies directly in the classrooms. Nesser highlighted the excitement among both students and teachers, stating, “We surprised six teachers and six classrooms with their grant and their school supplies.”
The Subaru Loves Learning initiative aims to provide teachers across the United States with funding to purchase necessary classroom supplies and resources. Brinson Memorial was selected by Subaru’s corporate office to receive the grants, with six teachers chosen randomly to benefit from the program.
Among the recipients was Kim Bailey, a resource teacher for exceptional children, who expressed her gratitude for the grant. “We have a lot of students with disabilities that we need a lot more manipulatives for,” she explained. “It feels really good to be supported, and knowing that we can use this help is a great benefit. It’s really exciting.”
Bailey plans to use her grant to acquire various educational tools, including whiteboards and specialized manipulatives for teaching math and reading. Another recipient, Britanny Rose, an art teacher, shared her enthusiasm for the additional funding. Last year, she used a grant from the Harold H. Bate Foundation to purchase a kiln for the art department. “Hopefully, this $500 will go towards supplies for that kiln to maybe add some really cool art projects to my classrooms,” she said.
Principal Chris Germain emphasized the passion of the teachers at Brinson Memorial and their commitment to utilizing the grants effectively. “I’m sure they’re going to be going home this weekend and shopping right away,” he remarked. Germain noted the excitement among newer teachers, as well as seasoned educators, to quickly equip their classrooms with the necessary supplies.
The partnership between Riverside Subaru and Brinson Memorial Elementary exemplifies community engagement. With the dealership located close to the school, Germain sees it as a beneficial collaboration. Nesser added, “We got to share love with everyone. Hopefully, the next school we do is just as receptive when we do this next year.”
As Brinson Memorial Elementary continues to foster an enriching learning environment, the grants from Subaru Loves Learning stand as a testament to the community’s commitment to education and support for teachers and students alike.
