Chelsey Smith, kindergarten teacher at Cloudland Elementary School, is the latest Northeast Community
Credit Union Helping Teachers Teach grant winner.
Smith applied for the grant to purchase supplies to create a books, shelves and comfortable seating to create a reading corner for her classroom. Smith has been teaching for nine years, previously teaching fourth through sixth-grade math. This is Smith’s first year as a kindergarten teacher, and she needs the necessary supplies to create learning areas for her students.
“Students would have a fun place to go read in the classroom instead of at their desk,” Smith said. “I can still remember the reading nook my kindergarten teacher had, and how much fun it was to grab a book and read it with a friend. If I can instill a love of reading in my students early, they will want to read more and more. This will help them so much in all learning experiences and subjects.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.
Northeast Community Credit Union is helping to support students as they prepare for a new school year
by sponsoring both of Carter County’s backpack programs.
NCCU donated $1,000 to both of Carter County’s Back to School Bashes in both cash and giveaways. The Back to School Bashes gives away thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies to students in the Carter County and Elizabethton City school systems each year.
Back to School Bash Ministries will host an event this Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Happy Valley High School. The Bash will have free school supplies, food, activities, characters and more. Items will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis and children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Elizabethton City Schools will be hosting their Back to School Bash on Tuesday, July 29 from 6-8 p.m. at Elizabethton High School. This bash will have free backpacks, school supplies, snacks, and games and activities on the field for children.
Northeast Community Credit Union will be at each Back to School Bash with special giveaways for students.
Northeast Community Credit Union has been serving the community since October 1952 when it was chartered as a credit union by the State of Tennessee. Northeast Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative. It is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Carter, Johnson, Washington, Unicoi and Sullivan counties along with their immediate family members.
For more information, visit www.BeMyCU.org.
Rhonda Taylor, pre-K teacher at Wandell Early Learning Center, is the latest Northeast Community 
Credit Union Helping Teachers Teach grant winner.
Taylor applied for the grant to purchase a new classroom rug. In pre-K classrooms, the classroom rug is a large part of daily activities. It is used in circle time, story time, lessons and for gathering. Classroom rugs usually feature colors, letters, numbers and shapes to support what the students are learning.
“It serves as more than just a decorative element; it is an essential teaching and learning tool that supports classroom structure, and routine for our 4–5-year-old learners,” Taylor said. “I strive to create a warm, welcoming, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for my young students. A new classroom rug would enhance our learning space and positively impact daily classroom activities.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.
Lauren Meier, Health Science teacher at Elizabethton High School, is the latest Northeast Community
Credit Union Helping Teachers Teach grant winner.
Meier applied for the grant to help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs for EHS’s Health Science students when they go to the National Skills USA Conference in Atlanta in late June. Seven EHS Health Science students will be competing in first aid/CPR, health occupations professional portfolio, health knowledge bowl and medical math.
“Attending this leadership conference provides students with a framework for developing essential skills for success in careers and life,” Meier said. “We hope to foster a more engaged and motivated learning environment by connecting our students to industry and helping them see the practical relevance of their education.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.
Katelin McKeehan, English teacher at Hampton High School, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teachers Teach grant winner.
Each May, McKeehan takes her students to Barter Theatre in Abingdon to enjoy a play. She will be using the HTT grant to help cover the cost of lunch for the students.
“We read plays out loud in class through our curriculum, and this will put into perspective the largeness of plays,” McKeehan said. “Many students are never introduced to plays and never get to experience them. We deal with low income students, and I do not want any of them excluded from this experience. I hope to relieve some financial strain on parents by using this money to insure if children cannot pay for their meals, there will be money to supplement that issue.”
Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.