Agents of Hope is pleased to announce the winner of our 2014 Back-To-School campaign, Mrs. Lisa DeFelice. According to recent reports, teachers spend between $500 – $1,000 per year out of their own pockets on school supplies due to cuts in education and financial issues. The Back to School Campaign will help ease the burden from these budget shortfalls as well as the student’s families.

Here is an essay letter from our 2014 Hero Teacher winner, Mrs. Lisa DeFelice:

As long as I can remember I have always wanted to be a teacher. I have always found a profound joy in helping children and connecting with them on a daily basis. I have come to realize in my 12 years of teaching 5th students ‘respect and let them know that you care about them as individuals.

My driving force as an educator is the students. They are my motivation to become a better teacher every day. It is their eagerness to learn and their excitement to share their experiences with me that makes me want to provide the best education that I can give to them.

I began my journey as an Elementary Educator at Eastern Michigan University. After I graduated with my Bachelors in Science degree in 2002, I was offered a 5th Community Schools, where I have been employed for the past 12 years. Also during this time I returned to school and earned a Masters in the Arts of Elementary Teaching from Saginaw Valley State University in 2006. In addition to continuously furthering my education through professional development, I have always been very involved with extracurricular activities that are offered at the schools I work at.

Throughout my 12 years of teaching I have noticed a decline in students being prepared with the necessary supplies needed to be successful in school. This is not due to the fact that the students do not want to be prepared, but rather their families do not have the means to prepare them with the tools grade that being a teacher is more than what is in textbooks; it is being able to earn the they need. Every year I spend on average $400-$500 on a variety of supplies for the classroom, this would include pencils, notebooks, pens, pencil sharpeners, rulers, crayons, colored pencils, as well as supplies that are needed throughout the year for different activities to enhance student learning.

I am very dedicated to my work and believe that each child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and having the proper tools supports their success. Thank you for your time and understanding,

Mrs. Lisa DeFelice, John R. Kment Elementary School, Roseville Community Schools.