DOLTON, IL 鈥� This week, the Dolton Education Association (DEA) and 黑料吃瓜网 (IEA) proudly completed a community service project for School District 148 (D148), celebrating the power of collaboration among educators, students and community leaders. Through the support of an IEA School and Community Outreach by Educators (SCORE) Grant, 100 reusable welcome bags were produced with a heartfelt message to new families joining the district.
Each bag contains essential school supplies, including spiral notebooks, pens, pencils and crayons, as well as household items such as toothpaste, combs, brushes, hygiene kits, laundry soap, dish soap and microfiber rags. Additionally, the bags provide vital information from the IEA and the Village of Dolton regarding residents鈥� rights, local food pantries and free community resources. A special donation of new girls鈥� shoes, provided by a dedicated Lincoln teacher, is also available to any newcomer in need.
鈥淭his project is more than just assembling bags鈥攊t symbolizes our commitment to community service and the strong bonds we create with our students and local community leaders,鈥� said DEA Vice President LeShele Silas Armour. 鈥淥ur teachers, students, and partners such as the Dolton Support Association 148, Dolton Police Department and Dolton Fire Department all played a crucial role in making this event a success. We are proud to work alongside our community to welcome and support every new family.鈥�
Fifty new families will receive these welcome bags on Mon., March 31, during parent-teacher conferences, with additional bags provided at registration as new students enroll. This initiative underscores the vital role of community service in education, demonstrating how collaborative efforts among teachers, students and community stakeholders can create lasting positive impacts on our neighborhoods.
鈥淭his is the perfect example of how educators can use SCORE grants to partner with our communities to improve the lives of students and families,鈥� IEA President Al Llorens said. 鈥淥ur members are not just focused on the classroom, they do so much more than that. They are focused on supporting our students and communities, so we can truly build strong public schools for all students.鈥�
DEA about 180 teachers and other licensed professionals working in D148. They serve the nearly 2,000 students who attend school in the district.
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The 135,000 member 黑料吃瓜网 (IEA-NEA) is the state鈥檚 largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
