Posted october 4, 2011

Forest Park Teacher, Budney, Recognized By Office Max on 'A Day Made Better' Event

She didn’t know it when she woke up Tuesday morning but orange would be the favorite color of Forest Park Elementary School teacher Kelli Budney.

That’s because a giant surprise was awaiting her and her fourth grade students when the local Office Max store surprised her class with $1,000 in school supplies in two big orange boxes. Budney was a winner of the 2011 national “A Day Made Better” educator recognition event.

Budney was one of 1,000 teachers across the country recognized in October for her dedication to her school, students and community. Representatives from Office Max secretly arrived at Forest Park in the morning and presented Budney was a bouquet of flowers and the supplies award.

“In a time when it is not hard to find negative attitudes towards teachers and schools, it is incredibly heartwarming to have Office Max run a program like this one,” Budney said. “A Day Made Better not only acknowledges the value of what we do every day, but offers to help.”

A Day Made Better is the office supply retailer’s campaign to eliminate teacher-funded classrooms, especially in this time of extra economic burden on school districts across the nation. According to studies conducted by the National Educational Association, teachers spend nearly $1,200 out of their own pockets each year for basic classroom supplies.

Among the $1,000 in supplies awarded to Forest Park was a digital camera and everything from sticky notes, scissors and pencils to glue sticks, notebooks and classroom organizers.

Budney said she was “overwhelmed” by the generosity of Office Max and all the donors who contributed. “On behalf of Forest Park, a place where I know the heart and soul that goes into each day, I am proud and honored to be a recipient of that generosity. The program may be called A Day Made Better, but the truth is it reaches way beyond a day!”

In a nomination letter submitted by her school, Budney was praised for engaging her students in the classroom with hands-on learning and the use of smart board technology to meet the diverse learning needs in a heterogeneous environment. “Her high expectations strongly encourage the students to strive to meet the core curriculum and core standards,” the letter said.

Budney is also a contributing and participating member the school’s Character Education and Olweus Bully Prevention programs, and has led school-wide activities promoting positive character traits and bully prevention techniques.

Budney is South Colonie’s third winner of the A Day Made Better campaign. Teachers have also been recognized over the years at Saddlewood Elementary School and Lisha Kill Middle School.