TULSA, Okla. — A Black History Month assembly honoring educators at Tulsa’s Burroughs Elementary ended with a big surprise!
Unsuspecting teachers and students filled the Burroughs gymnasium Friday morning. The assembly, meant to honor the teachers dedicated to their students, came with a shock when DonorsChoose took to the podium.
"DonorsChoose is excited to announce that we are donating $100,000 to Burroughs Elementary,” Ryan Jones, with the nonprofit, said. DonorsChoose is a non-profit that allows teachers across the country to request supplies and resources needed for their classrooms.
Principal Dee Tisdale told 2 News she’s known about the donation for some time and had a hard time keeping the secret. 2 News Anchor Cori Duke recorded the reaction as the school learned about the donation:
The donation comes during a month when Black educators are recognized for shaping Black history and American history, something particularly true in Tulsa Public Schools.
Burroughs Elementary was the first school in Tulsa to integrate fully and currently educates a majority Black population.
“The school has rich history. In Tulsa, we have so much amazing history, and I am glad we are honoring one of our elementary schools that is a pillar in our community," said Dr. Ebony Johnson, Superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools.
Johnson said she's thrilled to see an investment in our future leaders and educators.
"To see our kids' excitement and the students' excitement and the teachers' excitement, it was the icing on the cake,” Tisdale said. “What I have always shared with our teachers is, TPS does a great job of giving us what we need, DonorsChoose is going to give us what we want."
This donation gives teachers an opportunity to access additional and innovative supplies to enrich students' education.
“What this is going to mean to them is the extension of the day-to-day activities because now the teachers will have the resources to continue with the projects they have in mind,” Tisdale said.
Through this donation, DonorsChoose representatives said they not only hope to honor the past but put hope in a more equitable future.
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