Avon Teacher Receives OfficeMax's 'A Day Made Better' Award

Barbara Zarras, a third-grade teacher at Avon Center School in Grayslake District 46, recently received a great boost to her personal classroom supply fund. She was awarded $1,000 from OfficeMax's "A Day Made Better" campaign.

Zarras was one of only 1,000 teachers across the country to receive this honor. She was nominated by former Avon Principal Lynn Barkley, whose statement appears on Avon's school news site.

Zarras, wrote Barkley, "is a building leader amongst our staff who relentlessly gives of her time to make Avon Center School the best it can be."

Barkley added that Zarras "exemplifies all of the traits (trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and a good citizen) of our Character Counts program."

This was the sixth year for the OfficeMax program, in which associates surprise 1,000 teachers in their classrooms with $1,000 worth of school supplies, for a total of $1 million, contributed by OfficeMax consumers and business clients.

"OfficeMax shoppers and business clients have joined the cause because they recognize that their contributions have a positive effect on the community, and ultimately contribute to an educated workforce," stated Carolynn Brooks, vice president, chief diversity officer and president of the OfficeMax Charitable Foundation.