Parents celebrate teaching staff

Members of the Albany Parent Teacher Organization, parents of local students, and the Albany Masons plan to provide snacks, meals, prizes, and gifts to Albany Independent School District teachers and administrators during Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10.

“I am grateful that there is a special week designated just for them,” said PTO president Ginny Ivy. “We sometimes get so busy that we don’t always stop and show the teachers how much we appreciate all the hard work they do.” 

Tangible signs of appreciation next week will include a contest, meals, and special gifts.

“We will have something special for each teacher and staff member each day of the week,” said Ivy.

Teachers will be challenged to guess the number of peanuts in a jar, and the top four winners of the contest at each campus will receive gift baskets made up of combined prizes donated by various merchants in Albany. Winners will be announced Thursday.

“On Tuesday morning, a breakfast prepared by Prairie Star will be delivered to each campus,” said Ivy. “And on Wednesday, volunteer parents will bring different types of salads to the schools for a salad lunch.”

The Masons will host a breakfast for school workers on Wednesday morning, May 8, at First Christian Church.

The Masons expect to start serving a traditional breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, and fruit around 6:00 a.m. so the bus drivers can eat before they start their routes, according to Lodge officer Bob Skelton.

“We will do our part again,” Skelton said. “I will be out of town on judging duties, so Larry Nall will head up the meal this year.”