Coffee Truck Winners at Douglas County High School and Lone Jack High School

As summer slowly fades into fall, excitement builds as students gear up for another school year. Another year older, another year wiser, and another year of changing education trends. Back to school brings a new start for students and teachers alike, with the whole year stretching ahead and full of possibilities.

With these changing trends comes the need for updated materials to help students succeed in the classroom. Hollis + Miller wanted to make a small difference in several districts around both the Kansas City and Castle Rock metro areas. Through hosting the annual back-to-school giveaway, eight different teachers were the recipients of classroom grants in August, helping provide funds to update their classrooms or purchase supplies, enabling students to succeed. Two of those winners were also selected to win a coffee truck visit to their school, benefitting not just one teacher but showing a small token of our appreciation to all educators in the school with a specialty coffee and fun experience to kick off a great year.

“Teaching is the ultimate investment in the next generation. I love teaching because it gives me the opportunity to pass on ‘the stuff’ students need to be successful. Curriculum is important, but it is just as important to serve as a positive adult role model for our students,” said Allen Lehman, Math Teacher at Lone Jack High School. “There is nothing more professionally satisfying than knowing you made a difference in a student’s life.”

We challenge you to find a small way to give back to teachers in your community this fall. Students could have access to a state-of-the-art facility and all the supplies in the world, but without the encouraging, guiding hands of their teacher each day, it wouldn’t be worth a thing.

Thank you, teachers!

Districts awarded included Lone Jack School District, Douglas County School District, Bennett School District, Clear Creek School District, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, North Kansas City School District, Richmond R-XVI School District and St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School.