Teachers receive tools for the start of the school year | News, Sports, Jobs

TL Photo/GAGE VOTA Mr. Science, aka Jason Lindsey, uses a household fan and streamers to simulate a tornado to show teachers at the Ohio Valley Mall's annual Tools For Teachers event that not every science experiment has to be done with beakers and Bunsen burners.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Ohio Valley Mall was packed with people responsible for shaping the minds of the future on Thursday during the annual Tools For Teachers event.

The goal of the event is to provide teachers from across the Ohio Valley with the supplies they need to start the school year off right. Over 200 teachers attended the giveaway, where several vendors provided a plethora of different supplies. Some of the vendors that distributed supplies to teachers included the Belmont County Tourism Council, JB Green Team, Trinity Health System, and the Salvation Army. Chick-Fil-A donated chicken, Auntie Anne's donated pretzel bites, and the Great American Cookie Company donated cookie cakes to round out a free dinner for all teachers. The event was sponsored by Belmont Savings Bank.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to pamper our teachers and give them all the tools and materials they need to start the new school year,” said Candi Noble-Greathouse, the mall's marketing director.

“Many teachers have to take care of their school materials themselves, and this is one way to do that,” Said Noble-Greathouse.

“Every year we have to spend money out of our own pocket, so it’s just nice when events like this take place,” Intervention specialist at Skyvue Elementary Brooke Ferrel added.

The event featured two guest speakers: Jason Lindsey, better known as Mr. Science, and Joelle Moray. Lindsey's presentation was designed to show the teachers in attendance that they can conduct science experiments and activities in their classroom using everyday household items. He founded Mr. Science 17 years ago with the goal of showing students and teachers alike that scientists don't always have to wear the stereotypical lab coat or have beakers and Bunsen burners.

“The goal is to get teachers excited about the new school year. One way is to get them excited about science in class,” Said Lindsey.

Moray is a life coach whose goal was to mentally prepare teachers for the upcoming school year. Moray asked the crowd how many of them actually work a 40-hour week.

“How many of you quit after school? Don’t you work anymore?”

She added that virtually no one raised their hand: “I thought so.”

She also talked about how, thanks to technological advances, teachers are available virtually around the clock.

“Oh, you're a teacher. It must be nice to have such great hours. You have the whole summer off, what do you do after 2 p.m.? Well, I'll answer your calls if you call me at 9 p.m.!” she said sarcastically.

She then said that she believes there is a misconception that teachers have a perfect schedule and have the summer off, but that in reality the job requires much more than just the six hours of the actual school day.