Northwood Teacher's Day Made Better

Northwood Junior High teacher Emily Kurth got an unusual surprise Tuesday when representatives from a local OfficeMax store entered her classroom and presented her with a bouquet of flowers and more than $1,000 worth of supplies, including a new printer, digital camera, chair and more. 

Kurth, who teaches  sixth-graders in the English Language Learner (ELL) program, was one of 1,000 recipients nationwide of the OfficeMax program A Day Made Better, which recognizes deserving teachers who are nominated by their principals for their passion for teaching, innovation in the classroom, and dedication to their profession and to the success of their students. 

Kurth “successfully creates and fosters a caring learning environment where students are able to take educational risks,” Northwood principals Monica Schroeder and Jennifer Ferrari wrote in nominating Kurth.  “Students feel valued and cared for, and her personal investment in them goes a long way.”  As an ELL teacher, Kurth teaches students who are non-native English speakers.

Kurth, who was clearly touched by the award, told her roomful of excited students that she loves her job and that nothing gives her more pleasure than seeing them learn and grow. 

OfficeMax store manager Patrick Hanson, accompanied by three other staff members from the OfficeMax Mount Prospect location, invited Kurth’s students to help open and unpack an oversized box of supplies.  “OfficeMax understands the challenges teachers face every day,” he told Kurth and her students.  “You work very hard and there are high expectations for your performance, but you have limited budgets and resources.” 

In addition to the $1,000 in supplies for Kurth’s classroom, the Mount Prospect OfficeMax store, with the help of customer donations, contributed another $2,500 worth of supplies to the school, where about 40 percent of the students come from low-income households.

“We are touched not only by OfficeMax’s generosity,” said Northwood co-principal Schroeder, “but also by the fact that they recognize, value and support the important work of schools and teachers.”  Co-principal Ferrari also thanked Northwood administrative assistant Diane Morawa, who spearheaded the effort to nominate Kurth.

See more pictures on the District Facebook page.