By Drew Mortier
For this story, GTB got in touch with Kelly Flannery, CEO of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce (STC). Here is what Flannery had to say about the upcoming New Teacher Week, her chamber’s relationship with schools in the Greater Tampa Bay area, and plenty more.
Can you explain how the New Teacher Week event fits in with the STC’s mission to support the local community?
The vision of the STC is to make South Tampa the BEST place to live, work and play. Our teachers are some of our most valued resources as they help to shape the minds of our future citizens, leaders and workforce. Our New Teacher Welcome Week is an opportunity for the Chamber and our members to show our gratitude for the work they do and also to welcome them to our community.
According to surveys, the average teacher spends $500-$1,000 per year out-of-pocket on items for their classrooms and students. During the months of June and July, chamber members donate gifts, coupons and school supplies for the new hire teachers at 17 Hillsborough County schools. We hope these items give educators a warm welcome to their classroom and allow for one less thing to think about so they can focus on what is most important: our students.
Is New Teacher Week the first time the STC has organized an event of this kind for teachers? If so, what inspired the chamber to start this event?
The STC has hosted a New Teacher Welcome Breakfast for 14 years. The week before school started, each of the principals of the 17 schools we partner with were invited to a breakfast event along with their new-hire teachers. During the breakfast, the teachers were each presented with large gift bags full of personal gifts and school supplies.
In 2020, we were unable to host the breakfast due to the pandemic, but we still wanted to show appreciation to our teachers when they needed it most – so we transitioned our event to New Teacher Welcome Week, and we went to them! It was so successful that we retained this model, and this is now the third year of our revamped program. Local businesses can sponsor a school, and during the week before class starts, they hand-deliver the gift bags to teachers with an opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with them.
How can folks in GTB get in on the action and contribute to this event?
We will be filling gift bags for approximately 100 local teachers. School supplies can be dropped off at the STC office (located at 3415 W Bay to Bay Blvd.) through the end of July. We also have an Amazon Wish List that allows donors to ship items directly to us!
In general, what is the relationship between GTB schools and the STC?
Throughout the year, the STC’s Education Committee partners with Hillsborough County Public Schools for events including the Great American Teach-In, CEOs in Schools, Read Across America, various early learning initiatives and an annual book drive. We also advocate for important issues impacting schools at the local and state level.
What’s the absolute best part of your work as CEO of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce?
Our members! I get to work with the most incredible group of people each and every day—people who share in our mission to provide a forum that connects members, enhances commerce and enriches the South Tampa community. No two days are the same, which keeps things interesting, and I know that at the end of each day, I’ve had an impact on our community.
