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Columbia Business Monthly

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School Teacher Wins $10,000 Computer Lab Grant

Nov 13, 2018 10:30AM ● By Kathleen Maris
Photo: (l-r) Andy Horger, Rack Room Shoes employee; Adrienne Pearson, Rack Room Shoes district manager; Aline Newton, Real Teacher of the Year; Angie Mollohan, Rack Room Shoes regional manger; and Charlene Todd, Rack Room Shoes employee.

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School Teacher Aline Newton was named one of five winners of the Rack Room Shoes Real Teacher of the Year Contest. The school was formally presented with the $10,000 computer lab grant on Nov. 9.

According to Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School Principal Dr. Mark Dean, the school will be using the money to assist in producing quality college- and career-ready students. As a winner, Newton will also receive ‘Free Shoes for a Year’, which is equivalent to a $45 store voucher for 12 consecutive months.

“It is no secret we know the value of being innovative in today's society; however, this also can be a challenge when you lack the necessary resources and or funding,” said Dean. “This is why we value the contribution of business partners such as Rack Room Shoes to assist us in our effort to provide a quality product for future career opportunities.”

To celebrate the back-to-school shopping season, Rack Room Shoes launched the national competition calling for customers to nominate teachers who have made a positive impact in their lives and the lives of their children.

Rack Room Shoes committed to awarding five $10,000 grants to the schools of the winning teachers and ‘Free Shoes for a Year’ for each of the winning teachers. A call for nominations began in July and resulted in 129 nominations of deserving teachers. After a public voting period, which took place August 18 through September 6 and garnered more than 13,000 total votes, the five winners were announced.

According to Mark Lardie, president and CEO of Rack Room Shoes, “The Real Teacher of the Year Contest allowed individuals to say ‘thank you’ by recognizing teachers who have made an influential impact in their lives, while also playing a part in giving back to their schools in a unique way.”

The essay nominating Aline Newton was submitted by student Kanesha Randolph.