With the first day of school fast approaching, the teachers and staff at Lexington Middle School received a gift to help support them throughout the year.
MasterBrand Cabinets and several other local vendors donated materials and equipment to create a new teachers’ lounge at the school.
Tim Leahy is the controller at MasterBrands Cabinets and is also treasurer of the Family Teacher Organization at Lexington Middle School. He said that he approached his company about donating materials after noticing the condition of the former teachers’ lounge.
“Coming in here for (Family-Teacher Organization) meetings, I realized there really wasn’t a great space for teachers to cook food,” Leahy said. “So I went back to my leadership team (at work) and told them the middle school could really use a new kitchen, everybody jumped on board.”
He said MasterBrand is allowed to donate materials and labor once a year, and after selecting Lexington Middle School as their project, they began reaching out to other vendors in the area.
Associate sponsors are Johnson Electric, Triangle Construction, Desco Products, Miller Painting, Strickland Plumbing, K&L Precision Products and Grady Hedrick Landscaping.
The new space includes new cabinets and countertops, a new sink, stone backsplash, two microwaves and a new refrigerator. It also includes a replica wooden barn door and renovated bathrooms.
Murry Sink, media specialist at Lexington Middle School, said that she is overjoyed with the new space.
“I used to fuss all the time about the condition of the teachers’ lounge,” Sink said. “I didn’t realize they were going to do all this. This is just amazing; I am overwhelmed.”
Sink said she is pleased to see school administration and the Family-Teacher Organization taking an interest in supporting staff by a providing clean and quiet place for them to get away for a few minutes.
“You need to have a place to unwind after being with the kids all day,” Sink said. “You walk in the building and they have done so many wonderful things. I have been here 20 years, and I have never seen anything like this.”
Lexington Middle School Principal Sean Gaillard said he appreciates all those who volunteered their time and effort to support teachers and staff. He said that it is important that teachers know they are valued.
“We are really fortunate and we are really grateful to MasterBrand and the other vendors,” Gaillard said. “It takes a village; it takes the whole community. … Teachers are the hardest working folks, and they need a place to hang their hats, prepare food, breathe and just get reconnected. It gives them the boost they need and it helps with the culture we are trying to build here.”
Leahy said he appreciates how the community came together to create this new space for teachers and hopes the staff makes good use of it.
“It has been a labor of love,” Leahy said. “It is something that we wanted to do for the teachers to let them know how much we appreciate what they do every day. We know it makes a difference if they could just get away for 10 minutes, heat up some food or make a cup of coffee and just relax.”
With the first day of school fast approaching, the teachers and staff at Lexington Middle School received a gift to help support them throughout the year.
MasterBrand Cabinets and several other local vendors donated materials and equipment to create a new teachers’ lounge at the school.
Tim Leahy is the controller at MasterBrands Cabinets and is also treasurer of the Family Teacher Organization at Lexington Middle School. He said that he approached his company about donating materials after noticing the condition of the former teachers’ lounge.
“Coming in here for (Family-Teacher Organization) meetings, I realized there really wasn’t a great space for teachers to cook food,” Leahy said. “So I went back to my leadership team (at work) and told them the middle school could really use a new kitchen, everybody jumped on board.”
He said MasterBrand is allowed to donate materials and labor once a year, and after selecting Lexington Middle School as their project, they began reaching out to other vendors in the area.
Associate sponsors are Johnson Electric, Triangle Construction, Desco Products, Miller Painting, Strickland Plumbing, K&L Precision Products and Grady Hedrick Landscaping.
The new space includes new cabinets and countertops, a new sink, stone backsplash, two microwaves and a new refrigerator. It also includes a replica wooden barn door and renovated bathrooms.
Murry Sink, media specialist at Lexington Middle School, said that she is overjoyed with the new space.
“I used to fuss all the time about the condition of the teachers’ lounge,” Sink said. “I didn’t realize they were going to do all this. This is just amazing; I am overwhelmed.”
Sink said she is pleased to see school administration and the Family-Teacher Organization taking an interest in supporting staff by a providing clean and quiet place for them to get away for a few minutes.
“You need to have a place to unwind after being with the kids all day,” Sink said. “You walk in the building and they have done so many wonderful things. I have been here 20 years, and I have never seen anything like this.”
Lexington Middle School Principal Sean Gaillard said he appreciates all those who volunteered their time and effort to support teachers and staff. He said that it is important that teachers know they are valued.
“We are really fortunate and we are really grateful to MasterBrand and the other vendors,” Gaillard said. “It takes a village; it takes the whole community. … Teachers are the hardest working folks, and they need a place to hang their hats, prepare food, breathe and just get reconnected. It gives them the boost they need and it helps with the culture we are trying to build here.”
Leahy said he appreciates how the community came together to create this new space for teachers and hopes the staff makes good use of it.
“It has been a labor of love,” Leahy said. “It is something that we wanted to do for the teachers to let them know how much we appreciate what they do every day. We know it makes a difference if they could just get away for 10 minutes, heat up some food or make a cup of coffee and just relax.”
