2009-12-01 17:35:19 - Community Can Nominate K-12 Teachers in Southern Arizona to Win $50 Gift Certificate

A Tucson group formed to recruit, retain and reward K-12 teachers in Southern Arizona has initiated a partnership with OfficeMax to provide special recognition to local, deserving teachers.

The group, Tucson Values Teachers, is working with the national office supply retailer to conduct their “Teacher Excellence” award campaign. The Southern Arizona community can nominate area teachers who excel in and outside the classroom. The organizations’ executives will then select one winner each month to receive a $50 gift certificate from OfficeMax and a recognition page on Tucson Values Teachers’ Web site, www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org.

“Our teachers are spending $1,200 of their salary on average for basic classroom supplies,” said Jacquelyn Jackson, executive director of Tucson Values Teachers. “This program is a way to

thank those who go above and beyond for their students by helping them keep their hard-earned money in their pockets or purses.”

More than 10,000 teachers at district, private and charter schools are eligible to receive prizes and praise from the project. The organization is accepting nominations starting today, with the first winner to gain recognition Dec. 15. Subsequent awards will be announced each third Tuesday of a month.

To nominate a teacher for the “Teacher Excellence” award, visit www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org.


ABOUT TUCSON VALUES TEACHERS
Tucson Values Teachers is a regional initiative determined to prove that the Southern Arizona community should not just talk about the importance of improving education, but must unify in action to retain, recruit and reward K-12 teachers. The organization recognizes the critical role of teachers in the region and value the vital influence they have on Tucson's future. For more information, visit www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org or call (520) 327-7619.

ABOUT OFFICEMAX
OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) is a leader in both business-to-business office products solutions and retail office products. The OfficeMax mission is simple. We help our customers do their best work. The company provides office supplies and paper, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress®, technology products and solutions, and furniture to consumers and to large, medium and small businesses. OfficeMax customers are served by more than 30,000 associates through direct sales, catalogs, e-commerce and more than 1,000 stores. To find the nearest OfficeMax, call 1-877-OFFICEMAX. For more information, visit www.officemax.com.