Community for Public Schools invited leaders from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and the local government to witness the official unveiling of the newly renovated teacher’s lounge at Easton Elementary School on Wednesday morning.
Community for Public Schools formed two years ago as a way for concerned citizens to offer support to teachers at schools in need. They’ve since partnered with Easton, Konnoak Middle School, John F. Kennedy High School, and Carter High School to provide teachers with an occasional meal, gift cards, or supplies for their classrooms. Last year, the team stepped up their engagement at Carter by remodeling the school’s teacher’s lounge, and following a warm reception, they undertook the same project at Easton.
“We wanted to give support to teachers who don’t benefit from a large PTA,” said Valerie Brockenbrough of Community for Public Schools. “We want to make sure they have the support that they need and deserve.”
Staff at Easton say that even cleaning out the old teacher’s lounge was a big job, but the renovation has been stunning to behold. Equipped with a coffee bar, several couches and armchairs, and a beachy aesthetic marked by cool teal tones, the space is all about creating a relaxing atmosphere. Designer Kristin Koeblitz of Tahj Life & Style Boutique aimed to give teachers a calm and quiet space to decompress on days when the rigors of teaching pile up.
“Having 20 or 30 little people around you all day can be a lot,” Koeblitz said. “Sometimes, you need a place that’s calm and inviting where you can get your head together.”
Easton Principal Alis Mulero was blown away by the show of support that the renovation project brought to her school. She says that Community for Public Schools has invested an incredible amount of money and time into making her teachers feel valued, and at a time when the Easton PTA is slowly gaining steam, their support has made a noticeable impact on the school’s culture.
Having Superintendent Tricia McManus and representatives from the Board of Education and the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners come out to celebrate the completion of the project further affirmed that Easton’s success matters to the wider community.
“The job our teachers do is very hard, so it’s great when they’re able to feel seen and appreciated like this,” Mulero said. “Sometimes we feel so tiny as a school… it means a lot when the love comes all the way from the top down.”
Community for Public Schools used the occasion to announce $10,000 in planned investments for Easton next year, which will cover new equipment for the science lab, music classes, and pre-k playgrounds. They’re also already looking into their next teacher’s lounge renovation project options. 2025 is shaping up to be a full year of projects to make sure the district’s educators feel appreciated.
“I admire them so much for what they do,” said Wendy Parker of Community for Public Schools. “We hope that this will be a place where they can recharge and that it will help them be the best teachers that they can be."