Golden Empire Teacher Surprised With Supplies

A Rosemont kindergarten teacher recently received $1,000 in classroom supplies after being nominated by the school's principal. 

Renee Mondzak, who teaches at Golden Empire Elementary School, was under the impression that she was bringing her students onto the blacktop in compliance with a fire drill earlier this week, according to the Sacramento City Unified School District.

Once the students were assembled outside, Principal Irene Eister told Mondzak that she'd been selected to receive a van full of supplies, such as pens, pencils, a camera, laminator and jump drive.

Mondzak, who has taught for 22 years, was surprised. "Oh my goodness," she said in a district news release. "I have to work at least 10 more years now!"

The principal nominated Mondzak for OfficeMax's national "A Day Made Better" program because "She's amazing," Eister said in the news release. "She's fabulous. She's above and beyond."

Mondzak was among 1,000 teachers nationwide nominated by their principals for the award of supplies. The average American teacher spends between $400 and $1,000 of their own money on classroom supplies annually, according to OfficeMax.