CFHS teacher wins classroom supplies

CLARK FORK — Amy Stephensen, a teacher at Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High School, was one of 12 teachers across the country to recently win $1,000 worth of items off her Amazon wishlist.

TCC, one of the nation’s largest Verizon retailers, provides the items through their Teacher’s Rock initiative. The company operates over 500 locations, including one in Sandpoint. In 2014, they created the initiative, which helps replenish educators’ school supplies through in-store donations. Participating stores, including the one in Sandpoint, were provided with a box to fill with school supplies. Once the box was filled, each store selected a local teacher and hand-delivered the supplies to them.

Through another component of this effort — TCC’s Big Impact Initiative — the company awards selected teachers $1,000 worth of classroom supplies. Winners are selected randomly.

Stephenson found out about the Big Impact sweepstakes through her administrator. 

“We can always use more resources in an art room, so I entered the contest with the hope that we would get a few of the items from my wish list,” she said. “When I found out that I was selected, I felt ecstatic. What an amazing gift for our students.”

Stephenson has been teaching visual arts part-time at CFHS for nearly five years.

“My mother is an artist and shared her love of creating with me, and now I get to do the same with the young people who come into my classroom,” she said.

Through the program, she received large canvases and three new iPads.

“Canvases are always welcome in the classroom, as they allow students to paint on a more durable, high-quality surface and feel more invested in their work,” Stephenson said. “I also have a handful of students who have a strong interest in using technology to create digital art but the resources we have had were limited or outdated. These new iPads, which are compatible with programs such as Procreate or Lightroom, are opening up new possibilities and are giving these kids tools that professionals in the field are using."

Scott Moorehead, CEO of TCC, said the initiative stands as a cherished annual event for the company for over 10 years. 

“Teachers have left an indelible mark on each of us, inspiring the creation of our Teachers Rock initiative,” Moorehead said. “As we continue to witness the remarkable growth of this program, we are reminded of the essential role teachers play in nurturing future generations. Our unwavering support is a testament to the enduring impact they have on the world.”