By: Shawna Maston-Rayner
Reading Interventionist at Dickinson Middle School
I am new to Dickinson Middle School, and with approximately 80 certified staff members and 58 classified staff members, it can be challenging to get to know everyone. I have two goals: first, get to know (or at least meet) everyone, and second, find a way to bring a smile to their faces. While considering how to achieve these goals, I remembered an initiative from another district where we would roll around a cart filled with snacks and drinks for teachers during particularly stressful days or simply to brighten their day. The snack cart idea was perfect for what I wanted to accomplish.
I went to Dollar General and bought just about anything I could that would be a great snack for the staff I was about to meet. I got trail mix for the healthy bunch, candy for those who needed a sugar boost to get through the day, and chips. I also could not forget the chocolate. Who would pass up chocolate? Additionally, I wanted to get soda for the teachers since they often get thirsty molding the minds of our future.
I started on Monday after our Goal Week. We had worked hard by going into our co-workers' classrooms and observing their amazing teaching skills, so we deserved a treat to kick off our week. I borrowed a cart from the kitchen and began stocking it with snacks, candy, and drinks. At that point, I wasn't sure if all the teachers would be receptive to the idea. To my surprise, I was completely wrong! As I introduced myself and allowed them to choose a snack and drink, the smiles on their faces made all the time and effort worthwhile.
It was incredibly fulfilling for me, so I decided to do it again on Friday. The gratitude and smiles I received made me think about what I could do next year to build on this wonderful idea and spread even more joy. This is how the Sunshine Committee was revived at DMS. Now I have volunteers to join the committee, which means even more smiles next year.