To kick off the new school year, the Special Education Foundation (SEF) proudly partnered with Barnes & Noble at West County Mall to welcome educators sponsoring the Special School District's (SSD) annual Classroom Shopping Day.
Held on Friday, July 31, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the event allowed new SSD teachers to browse classroom resources, purchase books for their classrooms, and connect with fellow educators in preparation for a successful school year.
As part of SEF's welcome, every new teacher received a complimentary café beverage, courtesy of SEF, and was invited to sign up for SEF's educator mailing list for a chance to win a $50 gift card, generously donated by Barnes & Noble.
The event provided SEF staff with the opportunity to meet many of SSD's newest educators, introduce them to the Foundation's mission, and share the many programs available to support both teachers and students throughout the school year.
"We're excited to welcome these outstanding educators to SSD," said Director of Programs & Strategic Communications Shannon Benedek. "Educators play a vital role in helping students reach their full potential, and SEF is proud to partner with them by providing programs and resources that help create engaging and innovative learning experiences."
CONGRATULATIONS to Jamie Dover, winner of the $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card!
SEF is committed to supporting SSD educators through programs such as Classroom Innovation Grants, student assistance initiatives, adaptive and assistive equipment, scholarships, and leadership development opportunities. By investing in educators, SEF helps ensure students with disabilities have access to the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.
A special thank you to Barnes & Noble and Business Development Manager Meaghan Harned for partnering with SEF once again and helping make this annual tradition a meaningful start to the school year. Special Education Teacher and 2026 Starfish Awardee Donald Stanley of the Jennings School District shares his excitement about choosing books specifically for each of his students:
SSD educators can also explore SEF's dedicated SSD Educator Resource Page, where they can learn about grant opportunities, programs, upcoming events, and additional ways to partner with SEF in supporting students with disabilities throughout the year.
