Sand Springs Grad Starts 'Adopt A Teacher' Program

A Sand Springs grad wants you to adopt a teacher. The young woman started a school supplies drive after hearing about her district's lack of funding.

The Adopt A Teacher campaign is only two days old, but the donations are already coming in.

Most days you'll likely find 23-year-old Hannah Bill at the music store; her family owns Firey Music and Lessons in Sand Springs.

Bill said she was never big on school but loved her teachers.

"I had teachers that really invested in me, and invested in my growth and development," Bill said.

She was chatting with a friend last week who told her some Sand Springs teachers couldn't afford to replace their classroom's pencil sharpeners. She'd also heard about the penny tax proposal failing, and teachers left with no extra funding.

"My heart just kind of broke because I was like, 'I was always taken care of when I was in school. How can I give back in that way,'" Bill said.

After consulting her family, and some of her former teachers, Bill came up with the ‘Adopt A Teacher’ campaign and started collecting school supplies at the music store.

Donations came in right away.

Bill’s mother, Tina, said, "We're just thankful to be a part. And whatever donations people have, please come by and drop them off. We'll do what we can."

The supplies are just the start; Bill hopes to start a sponsorship program that would give $35 a month to every Sand Springs teacher.

"I love it. I love people. I grew up in a family that is always about giving back, and I have some really awesome parents that really instilled that in me and my brother," she said.

Bill said teachers have also asked for volunteers to help them with certain tasks, like making copies or sorting assignments. 

If you'd like to donate, bring any of the following to Firey Music and Lessons, 3722 OK-97 in Sand Springs:

• Copy paper
• Hand sanitizer
• Tissues
• Pencils
• Pencil sharpeners
• Markers
• Glue sticks
• Colored pencils
• Black dry-erase markers
• Notebook paper
• Antibacterial wipes
• AA and AAA batteries
• Multi-colored construction paper
• Paper clips
• Staples

The store's business hours are:

• Monday - 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday - 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday - 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday - 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday - 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday - 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bill hopes the Adopt A Teacher campaign will spread beyond Sand Springs.

If you’d like to help, you can find more information here.