Tucson Values Teachers, a regional initiative to help recruit, retain and reward K-12 teachers in Pima County, has formed a partnership with local businesses to provide significant educator discounts.
More than 10,000 public, private and charter schoolteachers will receive a “Summer Breaks for Teachers” card in their school mailboxes. By presenting the card with a valid teacher ID or a recent pay stub at a participating business, they can immediately get discounts on goods and services such as cars, furniture, food, hotel services and gym memberships.
A wide range of businesses has offered to reduce costs, including Jim Click Automotives, Maynards Market & Kitchen, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and YMCA of Southern Arizona. Others such as Magpies Gourmet Pizza, Metro Restaurants and El Charro Café are offering free entrées and rounds of golf.
Jacquelyn Jackson, executive director of Tucson Values Teachers, said the Summer Breaks card is her organization’
“This has been a hard year on everybody involved in K-12 education with looming budget cuts and increases in class sizes.” Jackson said. “With teachers being asked to do more with less, Tucson Values Teachers and the participating businesses wanted to give each teacher a token of our gratitude.”
At the Summer Breaks for Teachers unveiling ceremony held earlier today at Prince Elementary School in Tucson, Mayor Robert Walkup noted that the discounts program reveals the strength of the region when the community comes together.
“Without the community’s help to ensure we are providing the best education for students and the best working and living environment for teachers, this effort will not be able to succeed.” Walkup said. “It will take everybody’s help to assure the growth of the Tucson Values Teachers campaign.”
Jackson said at the conference that expanded industry internships, housing assistance partnerships and solutions to provide adequate school supplies and materials are all upcoming projects Tucson Values Teachers is working on and plans to announce by the end of 2009.
“Tucson Values Teachers has solid successes, thanks to the community’s efforts,” Jackson said. “We hope to provide additional benefits to teachers to reflect the enormous benefits they provide to our community and its future.”
For a full list of participating businesses and discount details, visit www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org.
ABOUT TUCSON VALUES TEACHERS
Tucson Values Teachers is a regional initiative determined to prove that we should not just talk about the importance of improving education, but must unify in action to retain, recruit and reward our K-12 teachers. The actions TVT takes recognize the critical role of teachers in our region and value the vital influence they have on Tucson's future. For more information, visit www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org or call (520) 327-7619.
