Dream Center to benefit educators and school staff during Teacher Appreciation Week

The DeSoto County Dream Center, a leading nonprofit organization committed to serving Title 1 school students and their families in DeSoto County, will partner again with locally owned restaurants to bless 5,000 educators and school staff on May 8. 

Thanks to the Homer Skelton Charitable Foundation, the Dream Center is purchasing gift cards totaling $10,000 per restaurant to give to all DeSoto County and Northpoint Christian School teachers and school staff. The gift cards will be included in a goody bag including a devotional and other care items to show appreciation for all they do.

“When teachers thrive, students thrive,” said Dream Center Executive Director Jenna Kern. “We want teachers, administrators, janitorial staff, nutrition staff and bus drivers to know they are seen and appreciated. The gift cards offer [school staff] a chance to go out and do something fun for themselves. The devotional (‘Live in Grace, Walk in Love’ by Bob Goff) hopefully adds a special word of encouragement when it is needed.”

The Teacher Appreciation initiative is part of the Dream Center’s ongoing effort to provide support and encouragement to underserved schools in the district. They act as the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for the Juvenile Detention Center in Hernando, Magnolia Elementary School and DeSoto County Alternative Center in Horn Lake, sending volunteers monthly who provide acts of care and service to staff.

These three schools traditionally have not received the support of a PTO and teachers have expressed sincere gratitude for the partnership in the midst of very challenging work. The Dream Center’s mission is to uplift Title 1 school communities, which are where at least 40 percent of students in attendance live below the poverty line. In our district, there are multiple schools where over 70 percent of students live under the poverty line currently.