Question: Teacher appreciation big ticket gift

Our PTO is looking for ideas on a big ticket item to purchase for our teachers and staff this year. Instead of spending $10.00 on a small individual gift for 50 staff we would like to pool the money and purchase a large item for $500.00. In the past we have bought a dishwasher and stand alone ice machine for the lounge. Any suggestions would be great! It could be something for the workroom as well...they have a laminator and accucut already. We are stumped! Help!

Asked by Lacie

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Answers:

Advice from PTO Today

Rose H writes:
Let's put this out on our Message Boards and Facebook page to get some answers for you!

Community Advice

fjrogers1 writes:
I would poll the teachers! They will know best what they would like and appreciate...

Community Advice

westernmass writes:
I agree with the others here and on FB who say, "ask the faculty," however if you're looking at posing some ideas before them...

Have you considered some shared digital photography equipment? A few nice cameras for faculty loan could be a great way for them to curate student work and school activities. Provide each teacher with a high capacity memory card for their classroom use. Walmart online has some very competitive pricing right now for such cards. (I've recently bought some.)

Advice from PTO Today

Rose H writes:
Hi again,

Circling back with the link to our Facebook discussion.

Good luck! You are obviously working hard to show the teachers how much you care! Bet your teachers will appreciate whatever you do!!

Rose C.

Community Advice

Ninja4Good writes:
While upgrading our teachers lounge, our teachers received a new Keurig brand coffee maker with a variety of K-cups, like iced tea, coffee, spiced cider, etc. They loved it and still enjoy it to this day. Make sure you purchase a large quantity of k-cups and include toppings, cream, sugars, etc. to make it special!

Community Advice

Lacie writes:
Thanks so much or all the advice! Our school currently has a movie license. Our teachers use their IPads for videos and pics and we are in the process of a free trial with Kuerig. The teachers were polled and honestly couldn't come up with a new item they needed. Guess that's not a bad problem to have...lol! We are purchasing $500 worth of non-fiction books per grade and We decided to buy them cabinet/bookshelves to house all their new books! Really, thanks again for all the advice!

Community Advice

Lacie writes:
Also, something else we are doing this year....We got local area business's to donate anything from free food, facials, hotel stays, oil changes, art classes, etc and are doing a raffle everyday for the teachers! I'm very excited because every staff member to include office, cafeteria, teachers, and custodians will receive an individual gift! The raffle part is just to see who gets what gift! And it is all free to PTO. Just a little leg work and phone calls! You know we all like to talk on the phone! Haha!