Local teachers organization holding gala to support fellow educators

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Local organization Teachers Support Teachers is throwing a gala to honor educators this weekend.

The event will regale teachers with food catered by Golden Lady and will feature a silent auction with gift cards from Longhorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse and Micah’s Jewelers.

Founder Juanita Inez Harris is a teacher at Harmony Leadership Academy and started her organization four years ago after feeling overwhelmed.

“If you’re not connected to an educator, you don’t know the things that we carry. We’re soldiering on with a smile because we believe in what we do, but what we carry is so heavy,” Harris said.

Harris established Teachers Support Teachers’ mission as providing opportunities for self care for educational front-line workers.

The organization provides opportunities for teachers to have a catered meal to take home, time to speak with a counselor, and pedicures. Harris said most educators welcome the pedicures after a long day on their feet teaching.

“We will also bring in veteran teachers and teachers who have been teaching for three years (or less) and bring them together, because one of our ultimate goals is also teacher retention. Because we’re losing lots of educators and what we want to do is create a rapport and a hub of support,” Harris said.

Harris said six educators will be presented with awards of recognition and a new award will be presented to a member of a local transportation department in honor of her cousin, who was a bus monitor.

“We’re going to celebrate the unsung heroes,” Harris said.

(The Teachers Support Teachers gala is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 4 at Crossties Event Venue, 324 E. Broad St. To learn more about the organization, visit wesupportteachers.com/teachers-support-teachers.)