Area educator gets $50K surprise

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

When Brandy Daye was a little girl, she knew she wanted to be a teacher.

And then in about seventh or eighth grade, her dreams changed. 

But only a little.

“I don’t want to be a teacher. I want to be a principal,” she told herself as a middle-schooler.

Why be the principal?

“Because the principal is the person that gets to make a drastic difference on the school culture,” she explained.

That’s what Daye told Box Tops for Education, Walmart and the LeBron James Family Foundation before she was surprised with a $50,000 check to put toward paying her student loans.

Last week in a video Facebook post, McKeesport Area School District revealed the three organizations teamed up to visit Twin Rivers Elementary School and to recognize Daye for her dedication to the children of MASD.

Box Tops for Education has teamed up with Walmart for a back-to-school partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation to advance racial equity in education by highlighting the many ways diverse educators and school support staff can improve students’ outcomes and education.

The program, called “The Best Year Starts Here,” features educators of color, showing their impact in the classroom through the eyes of their students and mentors, according to General Mills. 

It’s aimed to demonstrate simple ways to get involved by highlighting the new Box Tops for Education app feature that enables supporters to direct funds to schools in need.

In a phone call with the Mon Valley Independent, MASD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tia Wanzo said two teachers in Minnesota were recognized, along with a staff member at the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio.

“The whole focus is diversity and education,” Wanzo said of the partnership initiative. 

“Teachers and school staff are some of the most influential people in our kids’ lives. I know firsthand how important it is to see and learn from diverse educators  — it builds confidence and creates a connection for every single student,” LeBron James said. “For my foundation and our work in education, we’ve made this a priority in everything we do because we know how important it is to help students and families stay engaged. 

“We’re excited to help share what we’ve learned and tell this story alongside Box Tops for Education and Walmart.”

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