A Community Supporting Local Educators

The Henderson Teacher Store

Henderson organizations are continuing to help the educators who work hard for our schools: the Henderson Teacher Store, opening July 12th, is coming to town! 

Patty Sellers, Director of Development for the Henderson Kentucky Education Foundation, and Maggie Whitledge, Henderson Leadership Initiative Education Group member, discussed the ins and outs of the Henderson Teacher Store and what it aims to accomplish. Both are former educators and have a special interest in this project. 

The idea came from other surrounding stores, such as the Teacher Locker in Evansville, Indiana. This project is the result of the combined efforts of the Henderson Leadership Initiative and the Henderson Kentucky Education Foundation. Their tenacity, as well as the luck that came from both organizations having similar ideas at the same time, has brought the Henderson Teacher Store from a hopeful concept to an amazing asset for our teachers. 

The need for supplies for teachers is always present. “Teachers each year end up spending their own money on supplies that are necessary for the students,” Maggie stated. “We thought that this idea could help them to save their money and still help them to get what they need for each school year.” 

Patty sums up the initiative of the project: “The Henderson Kentucky Education Foundation is excited about the opportunity to partner with the 2024 Henderson Leadership Initiative Education Group to establish the Henderson Teacher Store!  We are committed to enhancing education in the community and look forward to assisting area teachers as they equip their classrooms and facilitate engaging learning opportunities for students.  We welcome participation from the Henderson community as we open and run the Teacher Store at Central Learning Academy, where school supplies will be provided at no cost to teachers.”

The Henderson Teacher Store, which is located at Central Academy, 851 Center Street, Henderson, KY 42420, at Entrance B3, is set to become a solid resource in the field of education. Teachers will be able to spend 30 allocated points per year on various supplies, ranging from pens and pencils to candy and snacks for their students. These supplies will be donated from the community and/or purchased with funds raised from the public. All teachers K-12 will have access to this store as long as they reside and work in Henderson County, including public school teachers, private school teachers, and other educators. 

The Henderson Teacher Store is reliant on the community to function. The most in demand supplies that are needed are gently-used or new pencils, pocket folders, glue sticks, card stock, sealed/prepackaged candy and snacks, earbuds/headphones, notebook paper, spiral notebooks, dry erase markers, and more. Community members will be able to arrange drop off or pick up with the store by going to the website: hendersonkyedfoundation.com where a donate link and information about the store will be present. Please consider donating to help our teachers and their students thrive! 

Teachers will be able to utilize a sign up link to find a time to come shop. The store will be volunteer-led so the hours are not yet set, but Patty and Maggie emphasized that the store will have after-school hours that will be convenient for all who wish to utilize the store’s benefits.

The Henderson Leadership Initiative members involved with this project include Maggie, Adam Blythe, Tyler Comer, Shawna Harrington, Marcos Nicolas Jr., Katie Kirkwood, and Winston Chaney. The Henderson Kentucky Education Foundation members involved include Patty, President Bill Floyd, and board members Nancy Satterfield, Eric Gardner, Jenny Richmond, Kris Kemp, and Phyllis Crafton. Patty and Maggie made sure to mention their appreciation for each person who has helped out with the Henderson Teacher Store. 

Donors to the store include Pittsburg Tank and Tower, Art and Cathy West, the Beasley Farm Trust (in memory of J. L. Beasley), Homer’s Barbecue, the Preston Foundation, Bill and Charlene Beasley (in memory of Hazel Sellers), the Koch Foundation Inc., David and Patty Sellers, Gibbs Die Casting, Superior Land Solutions, Zachary and Maggie Whitledge, and other anonymous donations. Those involved with the Henderson Teacher Store expressed great gratitude for the generosity of these donors. 

Patty and Maggie also wanted to give a special shout out to Central Academy for allowing the use of their space. Thank you, Central, for allowing such a project to come to fruition in Henderson! 

Those involved with this project displayed passion, consideration, and hard work. This team of people came together to make something great for our community and Henderson Family Magazine thanks them for their time and effort. We wish the utmost success for the Henderson Teacher Store!