DOING TIME
Fri, 2015-10-30 05:00
News Staff
Faculty and staff raise funds for United Way from behind bars.
By WENDY SLEDD
Martin Walker Elementary School staff were doing time in the pokey on Friday while students pointed and laughed at the unusual site of seeing their teachers in the clink.
School staff gave up their conference and planning periods to go behind bars for a worthy cause raising money for the United Way by serving time in a make-shift jail while students were in their elective classes such as music, physical education, and library. Each $5 earned equaled two minutes in the jail, with a maximum of ten minutes being served by any teacher. A few teachers served the entire time while some served out their sentences in only two minutes. Most of them tried to become fugitives working to escape during the lock-up. Second grade teacher Steve Johnson offered a bribe of “Honey Money” to students if they would let him out of his cell. “Honey Money” is awarded to students for good behavior and acts of kindness.
“I don’t trust my own class though,” he said as he furrowed his brow. “They’re the ones that put me in here.”
Fortunately for all of the jailbirds on Friday, going behind bars was a new experience. Second grade teachers Sarah Schoonover and Jennifer Farmer, her cellmate, were amused by their new surroundings.
“This is my first time in jail,” Schoonover said.
“Yeah. I’ve never been in jail either,” Farmer said.
Most teachers seemed to have a good time with the prank. When asked about her experience in the jail, first grade teacher Lyndsay Shelley summed it up in two words.
“It’s awesome,” she said grinning.
The money raised for the United Way by Martin Walker Elementary will contribute to CCISD’s goal to raise $40,000 for the organization this year.