OfficeMax Presents Mayfield Teacher
      with $1,000 in Supplies

October 6, 2010

Mayfield High School English teacher Shelly Dufel received a surprise Tuesday morning, October 5th. At 10 a.m., representatives from OfficeMax and Principal Robert Husain presented her with $1,000 worth of office supplies in recognition of her contributions as an educator.

Mrs. Dufel, who teaches 7th and 8th grade, received items ranging from binders and notebooks to a digital camera and a new chair as a part of a “Day Made Better.”

“I’m speechless and didn’t expect this,” Mrs. Dufel said, still trying to catch her breath. “I feel lucky to do what I love every day. I have great kids and I do it for them. This will really help out.”

Mr. Husain nominated Mrs. Dufel because of her devotion to educating her students and her leadership qualities. He said she has been in charge of the 8th grade team for a number of years and heads-up field trips and fundraisers.

“She’s an absolute caring teacher who loves her craft and her students,” he said. “It’s important my teachers find out all they can about their students. Mrs. Dufel really looks to know who her kids are and what they’re dealing with.”

Jamie Ward, a 1994 graduate of Mayfield High School and store manager from Office Max, presented the certificate to Mrs. Dufel. She was one of four teachers in the region and 1,000 nationwide to receive the supplies.

Ward said his daughter, Bailey Ward, a ninth grade student in the district, spoke highly of Mrs. Dufel.

She wasn’t the only one.

“When Mr. Husain nominated Mrs. Dufel, I started asking people around the district about what they thought of her. People said she went above and beyond to reach out to kids,” he said. “She’s constantly staying after class with kids and truly championing the values of teaching. Bailey told me she could always go to Mrs. Dufel and ask her a question without feeling embarrassed.”

Mrs. Dufel, whose been teaching the district for 12 years, said she probably spends about $300 a year on classroom supplies. And just minutes after the presentation, she was already thinking about how to use them.

“I can use the camera for class projects,” she said.

OfficeMax and the non-profit organization, Adopt-A-Classroom, founded the “Day Made Better” event in an effort to end teacher-funded classrooms. Teachers across the nation spend their own money to purchase classroom materials that many families and school districts cannot afford. The pop-group, the Jonas Brothers, kicked-off the event in Los Angeles.