Chamber welcomes teachers

Trish Leonard of the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce hands a giveaway new teachers package to Annmarie Ferry, left.

The business community showed its appreciation for new teachers at a special reception at the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber honored new Lee County teachers beginning the school year on Aug. 20 with gifts, school supplies and other school-related goodies.

“Being a teacher nowadays is not as easy as it once was and the business community wanted to recognize that,” said Nancy Keefer, the president of the chamber, during the event.

Teachers enjoyed food and participated in a raffle in which gift certificates were handed out for popular school supply stores and weekend hotel getaways.

“This is really delightful and it’s nice to be embarrassed by the community because many places just don’t show support,” said Maggie Krams, who will be teaching eighth graders at Bonita Springs Charter school.

Krams moved to Bonita Springs from Miami-Dade County and was looking forward to smaller class sizes.

“This area isn’t as overdeveloped and it’s great to have a supportive administration and small students,” she said.

Having new teachers in the area is an important cause for the chamber, which hosts the reception annually to show their appreciation.

“Our members were very generous and this is a way to prepare students and teachers,” said Keefer about the school supplies chamber members donated for the reception.

Members also donated more supplies for the school supply drive that coincides with the teachers party.

“This gives you the warm and fuzzies,” said Dana Cook, who will be teaching sixth grade at Bonita Springs Charter.

Freebies and giveaways aside though, most teachers were just grateful to be welcomed to the area.

Ashley Schoelen came to the area from Maryland and will be teaching sixth-graders for the first time at Bonita Springs Middle.

“It was awesome to be accepted by the community and get all the supplies,” said Schoelen, who accepted the job because it was near the beach. “It’s nice that the people in the community care so much.”