"I am speechless and I usually talk nonstop," said Donna McGarry. That was her response when ABC 7 and Gettel Automotive surprised her classroom with $500.
School is back in session and so is the ABC 7 and Gettel Automotive surprise squad. Each month, we recognize a teacher who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of their students.
This year, we wanted to do more to help teachers on the Suncoast. On Friday, August 2, all six Gettel locations opened their doors to the community. ABC7 was there as donations poured in and many teachers, past and present, stopped by to give their thanks.
Every month during the school year, ABC7 honors an educator in Sarasota County and Manatee County as the “Chalkboard Champion" and now you can get involved!
ABC7 has teamed up with Gettel Automotive to celebrate teachers on the Suncoast - calling them “Chalkboard Champions." The community nominates a teacher and ABC7 selects two winners each month - one for Sarasota and Manatee County.
Chalkboard Champion & 5th Grade Teacher, Kara Carney (middle) poses with ABC 7's Ray Collins, Gettel Automotive's Roy Smalls, student Christian Vann, her mother Michelle Vann and Principal Pat Stream at Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary School in Manatee County.
Winner of the ABC 7 Gettel Automotive "Chalkboard Champion" for May in Sarasota is Josh Stolze of "Beyond the Spectrum" Education Center in Lakewood Ranch. Josh is with ABC 7 Anchor Ray Collins and Gettel Automotive's Fred Bartholomew.
Tara Elementary School Principal Laura Campbell, ABC 7 Anchor Ray Collins, Teacher Loreena Durrance and a representative from Gettel Automotive pose for this month's ABC 7 & Gettel Automotive 'Chalkboard Champion' for March in Manatee County.
The Venice High School teacher making a difficult subject easy to understand, by connecting what he teaches in the classroom to real life so his students quickly catch on.
We head to Bradenton for December’s Manatee County Chalkboard Champion. ABC7′s Jacqueline Matter takes us to Manatee High School to meet orchestra director, Emily Eskildsen.
We head to Bradenton for November’s Manatee County Chalkboard Champion. ABC7′s Jacqueline Matter takes us to Electa Lee Middle School to meet Theater Director Starloe Galletta.
We head to North Port for November’s Sarasota County Chalkboard Champion. ABC 7′s Jacqueline Matter takes us to Atwater Elementary to meet first grade teacher Kayla Conley.
The closure began Monday, Oct. 19 and will be extended through Thursday, Oct. 22 . The roadway will be reopened on Friday, Oct. 23 through the weekend, then closed again on Monday, Oct. 26.
Blake Medical Center is home to the only Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Center in Manatee County and plays a vital role in the hospital’s continuum of care.
The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) names the Monty Andrews Arboretum in West Blalock Park in Venice a Certified Butterfly Garden. The certificate confirms the garden/habitat provides resources to increase the world’s butterfly population
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) received a nearly $5 million emergency grant to implement a Crisis Counseling Program to help Floridians respond to the behavioral health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
