Beyond the Classroom

Five Teachers
Making a Difference

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A teacher's job isn't finished when class is dismissed. That's why Walgreens is donating $5 million to help support local teachers and schools through the launch of the new WE Teachers program, in partnership with ME to WE. To help kick off this program, which aims to help teachers tackle tough social issues within their classrooms, we’re spotlighting five remarkable teachers who are going above and beyond, addressing important topics, like poverty, bullying and more.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Michael Bonner

How He Goes Above and Beyond

When a student is struggling with a difficult home life, violence in the community or not having basic needs met (a warm meal, clean clothes, etc.), Bonner steps up to help. According to Bonner, “spending adequate time with each student, making home visits and doing regular phone calls” can help build that much-needed foundational relationship. Once a student trusts him, he’s able to pour more knowledge into that child’s life and make a meaningful difference.

If I can help my students have confidence in who they are, my job is complete.”

On Youth Violence

Bonner says the only way he — or anyone — can be an effective teacher to kids dealing with youth violence and critical issues is by stepping out of his privilege and realizing that not everyone grows up the same way. He says teachers need to stop and take a moment to understand who this student is, what that student is going through and what they need.

Why He Became a Teacher

“I wanted to live a life where I can positively change generations through powerful connections and knowledge. The beauty in teaching children is that you can directly inspire them to tenaciously chase after their dreams.”

What He Hopes His Students Get Out of the Classroom

"I need my students to understand the power of who they are. It is no secret in America, we deal with a lot of [issues] that we don’t necessarily have control of, but if I can help them understand and have confidence in who they are, confidence in their freedom of speech, understand how to articulate themselves with facts, I feel like my job is complete."

Walgreens knows that teachers go above and beyond for their students. That’s why they are funding the development of WE Teachers. This new program will provide educators with free tools and resources to help them address critical social issues—like youth violence—in their classrooms.

Shop back-to-school at Walgreens to join their commitment in supporting teachers!

QUEENS, NEW YORK

Samara Rizzotti

How She Goes Above and Beyond

For Rizzotti, teaching isn’t just about academic intelligence; she also stresses emotional learning and mental well-being. Her signature idea, the “Compliment Car Wash,” teaches students to be kind to one another while feeling joy. Forming two lines, the students face each other and take turns walking through the “car wash.” As the students walk past, each one on the line delivers a compliment to make their day just a little bit brighter. Rizzotti says, “Students get joy just as much as making someone else’s day brighter when giving a compliment as much as receiving one.”

Being a teacher is doing every other job you can think of: guidance counselor, social worker, advocate.”

On Mental Health and Well-being

To understand a child’s state of mind (and help them understand it for themselves), Rizzotti uses a color-coded mood meter to give her students a chance to think about their mood when speaking to her. “I don’t interject. I don’t interrupt,” she says. “[Instead], I give students wait time to respond, not try to answer for them. You have to build that trust so they’re comfortable talking about it.”

What Inspired Her to Become a Teacher

“Ever since I could play with dolls and be the teacher, that’s what I did. I would teach my dolls. I was emulating my past teachers. I wanted to be just as cool as they were.”

On Being More Than a Teacher

“[Being a teacher] is doing every other job you can think of: guidance counselor, social worker, advocate. Every day is different. It’s about making sure [the kids] are all healthy and safe and feel loved and valued and then teaching them. That, to me, is important—to meet their needs socially and emotionally.”

Shop back-to-school at Walgreens to join their commitment in supporting teachers!

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Courtney Thompson

How She Goes Above and Beyond

Over the past seven years as an English teacher at Title 1 schools (public schools that rely on federal funding), Thompson has struggled with teaching students “old-school” literature. While Shakespeare is classic, she found that kids who face poverty and difficult home lives relate more to contemporary stories. Unfortunately, Thompson's school does not have the budget to purchase additional books, so she buys them herself to share with her students. The result? Through reading about characters who deal with race and social class, students learn that they’re not alone. Thompson says they feel represented.

On Poverty

Thompson says a lack of funds is a big issue in both her classroom and the lives of her students, but she won’t let that hinder their education. She takes her own money and scours thrift stores and library sales on the weekends and during her summer break to buy books for her class. Thompson says that when her students read books that they can connect with, they feel empowered.

It's amazing how a little bit of faith in one student doesn’t just change their life, but their whole family's life.”

What She Hopes Students Get Out of Her Classroom

“My hope is that [the education] goes beyond me and that student. It's the hope that when a teacher like myself or another teacher sees the potential in [a student], it can honestly change the trajectory of their life.”

Her Favorite Teacher Moment

“It's amazing how a little bit of faith in one student doesn’t just change their life, but their whole family's life. [There was one girl] who I was able to recommend into AP English as a junior, and she told me as a senior it changed everything. She went to [college] for business. Her sister watched, and then she decided to challenge herself with honors for the first time ever.”

Walgreens is on a mission to support and celebrate America’s teachers! Visit your local Walgreens this back-to-school season to learn how you can nominate a deserving educator for a $500 WE Teachers Award to help with the cost of classroom supplies.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Christina Singh

How She Goes Above and Beyond

During her first year as a New York City kindergarten teacher, Singh was determined to promote cultural diversity and inclusion in her classroom. Through “Mystery Readers,” a program that brings parents and guests to classrooms to read books to students, Singh exposes the students not only to a variety of stories, but also to each other’s home lives. It shows the students that they’re not very different from each other at all.

On Diversity and Inclusion

To better connect with young students, Singh chooses books with diverse characters. When Singh was growing up, she says, there were no books with characters that looked like her or had stories similar to hers. Singh believes that representation matters, and to help children understand all the things they can accomplish, they need to see characters who look like them, act like them and grew up like them, who are living their dreams.

I want them to understand how important education really is.”

What She Hopes Students Get Out of Her Classroom

“One thing I would like to pass on to students — mine or any other students I come across, no matter what age — I want them to understand how important education really is.”

Her Favorite Teacher Moment

“[I have an English language learner in my classroom] and I decided to have her dad come in as a ‘Mystery Reader’ and read aloud to the class in Spanish. It not only impacted her as a student, but it also impacted my other students in the classroom. As soon as her dad started reading the book, my other students were like, ‘What! What is he saying?’ And I was like, ‘This is exactly how [she] feels when we’re speaking English because we know English. All she knows is Spanish, and she’s learning.’ I got to give them that experience.”

Shop back-to-school at Walgreens to join their commitment in supporting teachers!

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Kenneth Joyner

How He Goes Above and Beyond

Joyner believes every young student can be successful in this world with the right skills and tools to navigate. His nonprofit after-school program, “Boys with a Purpose,” teaches young men life skills, academics and how to cope with social and emotional stress. One student suffering from low self-esteem turned a corner through “Boys with a Purpose.” Joyner says the young man found respect for himself and his education — and even went up 34 points on a standardized test.

On Bullying

According to Joyner, “bullying is rampant,” not just in his community, but worldwide. To combat it, he helps kids realize their self-worth. “When you respect yourself, you respect others,” Joyner says.

When kids feel comfortable, that's when they'll begin to tear down the walls.”

Why He Loves Being a Teacher

“When I walk into the classroom, I know I have to bring not only my content, but I also have to bring love. I have to bring empathy and a love for these kids that they have never seen before, so that they feel comfortable in being themselves. When kids feel comfortable, that's when they'll begin to tear down the walls.”

What Inspired Him to Become a Teacher

“My teacher in high school, Mrs. Shaw, would always say to me, ‘Mr. Joyner, you could be an A-student if you wanted to be.’ And I wanted to join the NBA, so I really didn’t need to worry about my grades at the time. But what Mrs. Shaw was doing was speaking life into me. She saw something in me that I really didn’t see in myself.”

Shop back-to-school at Walgreens to join their commitment in supporting teachers!