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Market Street teacher wins national award
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Market Street Elementary kindergarten teacher Chrys Ritter (back center) received $1,000 worth of school supplies from OficeMax Tuesday for the, "A Day Made Better" award. She was nominated by school principal Jim Stitt.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Kindergarten teacher Chrys Ritter (left) was surprised when OfficeMax representatives delivered $1,000 worth of schools supplies to her room Tuesday. She was chosen for the, "A Day Made Better" award.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .OfficeMax representatives opened a box containing school supplies during the surprise presentation Tuesday of the, "A Day Made Better" award to kindergarten teacher Chrys Ritter. She has been teaching at Market Street Elementary for 11 years.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Market Street Elementary kindergarten teacher Chrys Ritter (right) was overcome with emotion as an OfficeMax representative explained why she was nominated for the, "A Day Made Better" award.
Market Street Elementary is home for one of the 1,000 educators across the nation who were surprised with free school supplies Tuesday.
Kindergarten teacher Chrys Ritter was chosen for the “A Day Made Better” award and receivedg $1,000 worth of school supplies from Office Max. She was nominated by school principal Jim Stitt.
According to Stitt, prior to Ritter teaching kindergarten, she taught second grade for several years, but has always made her students the No. 1 priority.
“She has demonstrated exemplary initiative and leadership in aiding the transition for her students and parents into her kindergarten classroom,” Stitt said. “Her compassion and good teaching qualities have served to create an atmosphere in her classroom that fosters learning and acceptance.”
Stitt made sure Ritter knew nothing of the surprise. He told her she would be getting a special visit, but didn’t tell her who was coming.
“He told me it has something to do with fitness,” Ritter said. “I had no idea what was going on.”
Along with OfficeM ax representatives, faculty members and students, Ritter’s family members were there to witness the surprise presentation. Her husband, Bill, mother, Eleanor DeLuco, and sister, Pat Butto, took time to be present for Ritter’s special day.
“We are so proud of her and the work she does. She’s so dedicated,” Butto said.
A Day Made Better was originated in 2007 when Office Max teamed with Adopt-A-Classroom to create a national campaign to recognize and celebrate teachers across the country. Ritter was one of 1,000 teachers nationwide who received the “A Day Made Better,” award.
The campaign delivered school supplies Tuesday to keep teachers from spending out-of-pocket funds for classroom needs. Supplies included binders, notebooks, staples, scissors, hole punchers, pencils and a new leather desk chair.
Ritter has been teaching at Market Street Elementary for 11 years.
“It is such an honor. It was so nice to have been nominated,” Ritter said. “I am overwhelmed.”