Quinta Brunson, star of ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” is a vocal advocate for teachers both on and off the screen.
Brunson, 32, portrays Janine Teagues, a quirky second-grade teacher who is enthusiastic about elevating her children and the well-being of her colleagues, in the smash comedy. Brunson also developed the program.
To get a sense of what it is like to be a teacher in an impoverished school, the program features real-life examples from instructors like Brunson’s mother.
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, Brunson teamed up with Box Tops for Education in order to support and elevate today’s educators. Brunson and Box Tops for Education are contributing $20,000 to Andrew Hamilton Middle School in Philadelphia, which she went as a child and where, according to GreatSchools.org, every single kid comes from a low-income family.
Teachers in Philadelphia earn an average salary of $52,879 a year, according to Glassdoor.com. However, according to personal finance website Go Banking Rates, a Philadelphia homeowner needs have an annual salary of roughly $82,439 to be able to afford to live in the city. Renters in the city need earn at least $92,639 per year to be comfortable.
In spite of this significant difference, many instructors at disadvantaged schools frequently have to spend their own money to purchase books and materials, which Brunson says she is pleased to supply.
It’s a dream come true for me to help out one of the schools where I attended to school. Abbott Elementary was a vehicle through which we were able to give back to many schools around the nation. However, aiding Andrew Hamilton, a school where I have many happy memories, seems very significant to me.
Brunson believes that his gift will enable instructors to provide their children with the resources they need to succeed academically.
If the instructors there can utilize it for anything, I’m fine for it. It might be books for some instructors, while others could wait to see what their classrooms or students want before making a purchase. Nevertheless, I believe that allowing the recipients to choose how the funds will be used is a vital aspect of making gifts of this kind.
Educators are now more desperate than ever to stay afloat. Teachers were particularly heavily struck by the epidemic, with many considering quitting their jobs as a result.
An EdWeek poll conducted recently indicated that over 40% of teachers said they were very or moderately likely to quit their jobs in the next two years because they felt “overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated. “Political and cultural struggles” over immunization, face masks, gender, and sexuality are causing instructors to feel underpaid.
About 51% of those who took part in Edweek’s study said they strongly disagreed that their pay is a reasonable reflection of their workload, which is about equivalent to 54 hours per week for the average teacher. 45 percent of teachers also stated they wouldn’t urge their younger selves to choose teaching as a vocation if they could go back in time.
According to Brunson, there are a number of ways you can assist support teachers in your area.
Meetings involving schools in a community are always open to the public. In addition, parents must realize that much of the work of education is a team effort. In the course of my mother’s life, I saw this. She can accomplish a great deal in the classroom, but she can do even more when parents are involved in their children’s education at home.”
