Helping Teachers Through ‘Second Summer’

During the first few weeks of school in New England, the weather can be incredibly unpredictable. In September 2023, several school days were cut short due to excessive heat, an issue complicated by the fact that many schools in the region are older and don't have air conditioning.

This year, the first week of school had a distinctly autumn feel, with cool temperatures and non-existent humidity. That changed quickly, with the humidity and warm temps returning after just a few days. Thankfully it's not going to be as bad as the 100-degree days we experienced last year, but the classrooms still get pretty warm.

My family has remained active at the small elementary school my kids attended when they were younger. My wife works in the library and still assists the PTO, years after our youngest left the school. She mentioned to me when school started that the water cooler in the teachers' lounge was no longer being refilled with new water jugs.

I've been trying to decide what to do with the money from the RAK program. The $20 bill has been sitting on my office desk for weeks now. I'm glad I waited, since I am so grateful to the teachers and administration of the school for everything they've done for my kids. I showed up at the school with several 5-gallon containers of water, a small act that I hope will help the school's staff get through what we sometimes refer to as "second summer" in the Northeast.

Corey Tomlinson
Independent Marketing Consultant