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Longfellow’s Teachers’ Work Room Renovations Complete

By November 15, 2018 December 18th, 2019 No Comments

Last week, Longfellow teachers, KCPS leaders, and PrincipalsConnect volunteers celebrated the “grand opening” of an updated lounge for teachers.

Before renovations

After principal Jimmie Bullard asked us for help promoting teamwork with her teachers, PC Adviser Judy Burge held focus groups with Longfellow’s teachers to listen to suggestions.  A functioning, inviting teacher’s lounge came to the top of the list.  The current room held a mish-mash of furniture, and lacked a kitchen area.

We reached out to Susan Morgenthaler who helped create the interior design direction for Kansas City’s Ronald McDonald House.  We loved her simple, comfortable concept and after a thumbs-up from Dr. Bullard, we started to look for money to fund the project.  PrincipalsConnect and the KCPS District agreed to help fund the room, but we needed a corporate partner.

Post renovations

Cora Storbeck, President of the Hallmark Corporate Foundation stepped up to the plate.  With a generous donation from the Hallmark Corporate Foundation, Morgenthaler headed to Home Depot, where Assistant Manager Jerry Pyburn provided a discount on kitchen products, flooring and paint, as part of Home Depot’s community involvement efforts.  On one of the hottest days in July, Burge, Morgenthaler, PC Adviser Denice Ross Haynes and Carol Hallquist spent the day painting the room.  Jim Tilden, a semi-retired attorney and master wood craftsman, constructed a workstation with drawers custom-made to hold the dies teachers need for bulletin board projects.

New kitchen space

All along the way, the KCPS facilities department did the heavy lifting of installing a new floor, revising electricity, and hanging the cabinets.

The teachers tell us they love the new space and do more than just make copies in the room.  They’re chatting with other teachers, enjoying a quiet break and utilizing the room for celebrations and small gatherings.

Big thanks to Hallmark Corporate Foundation, Victoria Barnard, Mary Beth Brown, Nicole Collier-White, Tresia Franklin, Darcy Howe, Theresa Hupp, Fran Jenny, Nancy Kenner, Jan Kreamer, Dale Ladner, Cheryl Linder, Joann Schwarberg, Susan Vann, Carol Zoellner, Allan Cassity, Rodney Lewallen, and Linda Quinley for helping provide our teachers with a bright new space!