For the second year, Palms West Alliance Church hosted a Teacher Appreciation Dinner on Sunday, May 18, honoring local teachers, coaches and school administrators.
Children from the church invited one of their favorite teachers to attend, along with other members of the church who are educators. Public, private and homeschool teachers and students attended.
More than 50 guests sat at formal tables. Students were seated beside their teachers and were asked to serve dinner to their special guests. Each teacher was given a special gift of a travel mug with the inscription “Thank you, awesome teacher!”
After dessert, Alicia Clarke walked around to each table introducing each student and their teacher, and provided the opportunity for the student to read their personal note of thanks to their teacher or coach. It was a heartfelt time of laughter, smiles and even tears of delight.
Willie Jo Young, principal of Gold Coast School of Choice, delivered the keynote address with the theme “Children live what they learn.” She related several humorous, yet touching stories from her classroom and administrative experience over the past 40 years serving in the School District of Palm Beach County.
Pastor Randy Clarke closed the evening’s tribute with a reminder that teachers, coaches and administrators work in partnership with the church, not just to teach a subject, but to impact a life.
Palms West Alliance Church is located at 16401 Southern Blvd. For info., visit www.palmswest.org or call (561) 791-0524.
ABOVE: Lori Ward (right) from Frontier Elementary School gives a hug to her student, Rebekah Smith.
