LEAP for Education, Inc., a Salem-based nonprofit, has created a Teacher-Hero Fund to honor North Shore teachers for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
LEAP (Learn, Explore, Aspire, and Pursue) will be celebrating hundreds of those teachers — who have been able to adapt and persevere for their students during challenging times — during its annual Great Expectations fundraising event, which will be held virtually on April 8, from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
LEAP encourages people to nominate teachers on its event page, at www.leap4ed- greatexpectations.org. LEAP will randomly select five teachers to be awarded a $100 gift card each, but all teachers’ names who have been nominated will be honor-scrolled during the event.
LEAP will also host a teacher appreciation breakfast after the fundraiser at all of the schools that it partners with, including Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Salem High School, and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
“I’ve been amazed at the work that teachers have had to do and what they’ve been able to accomplish,” LEAP Executive Director Linda Saris said.
Saris said teachers have been heroes during the pandemic, which prompted her to organize something special to acknowledge them and their dedication.
“Think about it. Teachers had to learn new technology, not only for themselves but for their students,” she said. “They had to convert all their curricula for remote learning and rethink how they teach, and at the same time address the social-emotional needs of children. LEAP could not do what we do without teachers and counselors, and we want to recognize their contributions.”
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) donated $3,000 to support the fund, which will also benefit LEAP’s free academic, college and career programs for underserved students in Lynn, Peabody, Salem and Gloucester.
“We at AFT Mass., are thrilled to be able to sponsor this event and, with LEAP and the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), recognize and honor the passion and dedication that our teachers have shown through this past year,” said Beth Kontos, president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts. “
“As a former teacher at Salem High School, I have personally seen the excellent work that LEAP does to recognize the strengths of its students and help them build on those strengths to succeed in education and life.”
The event will also include a special appearance from Patriots players Devin and Jason McCourty. The brothers will each receive LEAP’s Distinguished Leaders Award for their work across the state to advocate for equal access to quality education for all children and will also deliver the keynote speech.
School superintendents from Lynn, Salem and Peabody will also deliver comments at the event.
This will be the ninth Great Expectations annual fundraiser, which is proudly sponsored by AFT, MTA, North Shore Bank, EBSCO Information Services, and Cell Signaling Technology.
Saris said LEAP is appreciative of the work and adjustments that teachers were faced with over the past year and hopes that people will nominate some of their favorite teachers.
“Whether you can attend the event or not, we want to invite you to honor a teacher, retired or active. Anyone can nominate up to five teachers anywhere in the world,” said Saris.
LEAP currently has 37 students enrolled and will have three open seats to add more students in the summer. The organization has been hosting virtual after-school programs but hopes to transition back to in-person programming during the spring.
