staples for students

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the role of kindness in the classroom.

And when I was approached by the good people at Staples about the partnership between Staples and Lady Gaga and all of the awesome that they’re creating with Staples for Students, you better believe I was game to share.

Do you ever wonder:

What role does kindness have in the classroom today?
What is the correlation between kindness and overall well-being among students?
How can we empower students today to take an active role in creating positive, collaborative learning environments?
Where can we find resources for teachers to use to create a positive classroom climate?
How can we be sure that teachers have all the materials they need for instruction?
Which companies really understand the importance of supporting teachers and students, especially during back to school time?

I’ve got some answers for you, my friend. Many answers.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Positive Classroom Experience for All: Staples + Lady Gaga = Staples for Students

First, NEWSFLASH:

What is the Staples for Students program?

Staples is a longtime support of education, and this year it has teamed up with Lady Gaga to support education and create a positive classroom experience through the Staples for Students program.

Here’s a quick video to explain even more:

What is Donors Choose and what is Born this Way? Good questions.

Donors Choose is one of my all-time favorite organizations.

Donors Choose is an organization that makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need, simply by choosing the project he or she wants to fund.

Think about it: by helping classrooms in need, we get closer to being a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education. Isn’t that awesome?

How Donors Choose works:

There are tens of thousands of projects to choose from, and every single project is managed by DonorsChoose.org; they vet the projects, purchase the supplies and ship materials directly to schools.

That way you know that every single project is legit and that every single teacher will get the supplies he or she needs. It’s awesome.

I’ve helped fund dozens of projects, and I’m no millionaire.

If I have an extra $5 or $10 or $20, I’ll head over to the site to see how I can help.

What is the Born This Way Foundation?

Born This Way Foundation is a foundation focused on empowering youth and inspiring bravery.

Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2012 with the goal of creating a kinder and braver world.

Born This Way Foundation is committed to supporting the wellness of young people and empowering them to create a kinder and braver world. To achieve these goals, Born This Way Foundation leverages rigorous academic research and authentic partnerships in order to provide young people with kinder communities, improved mental health resources, and more positive environments – online and offline.

I love it. And I love the resources and supports on the Born This Way site.

Definitely worth checking out!

How does all of this fit together in the Staples for Students program?

Staples is donating $1 million apiece to DonorsChoose.org and the Born This Way Foundation to promote kindness in schools and to ensure teachers and students have the resources they need for successful learning in classrooms.

Bam.

That’s it.

How awesome is that?! Way to go, Staples!

But it doesn’t stop there. Staples is also giving away a $50K scholarship and a trip to see Lady Gaga in concert.

All you need to do is enter a special code from your Staples receipt to enter.

All the details can be found at StaplesForStudents.org.

Isn’t it amazing when you hear about brands or celebrities doing great things? When you hear news filled with kindness, support, and love? When you hear about everyday people doing all they can to bring more good into the world? When you hear about ways that you can support great projects, initiatives, and campaigns?

I’ll be working with Staples in this Back-to-School season, so stay tuned for an exciting Twitter event and more this August.

And when it comes time to think back to school supplies for your kids, think about Staples and how this company understands the importance of supporting teachers and students.

fyi: This post was written as part of a partnership with Staples. As always, my opinions are all my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator.