“A Day Made Better” for One Cedar Island Elementary Teacher

Music Teacher Rachel Veenker received a surprise visit Wednesday, Oct. 5 from and Principal Dan Wald as part of the A Day Made Better program.

Veenker was honored for her work at Cedar Island, received an award and $1,000 in classroom supplies from the retailer. One day each year, the nationwide OfficeMax program honors 1,000 teachers for their “extraordinary efforts” in the classroom.

Winning teachers were nominated for this award by their principal or another member of the school staff for “demonstrating passion, dedication and innovation in the classroom,” according to the retailer.

"Rachel Veenker is a talented and dedicated music teacher. She means more to our school than just the music she brings to us,” Wald said on the nomination form. “Rachel also is committed the whole child, academically, socially and emotionally. Rachel also gives of herself to help others in the building on a daily basis. She sees what needs to be done and then pitches in to help whenever possible. Finally, Rachel is respected as a strong building leader and doesn’t hesitate to take on leadership roles."

Another teacher in the , from Brooklyn Park’s Crest View Elementary, received the recognition as well.

OfficeMax’s A Day Made Better and its nonprofit partner, Adopt-A-Classroom, have funded more than 4,500 classrooms with more than $4.5 million in grants and school supplies since 2007.