Cheney High School Spanish teacher Marissa Sheldon (third from left) poses with her Spanish Club students, representatives from Hayden Homes and a mock up of the $1,000 check presented to the club on Monday.
Cheney High School Spanish teacher Marissa Sheldon could no doubt use a relaxing day at a spa, given her schedule. However, the native of Brazil recently decided that her Spanish Club could use it - at least what it costs - more.
Besides teaching, Sheldon is also a Realtor, having received her license in 2012 and sold for Coldwell Banker and Tomlinson West Plains. Recently, Sheldon sold three houses for Hayden Homes, and in recognition of the achievement, the company rewarded her with a spa day valued at $500.
But instead of taking the time off, Hayden Homes representative Andrea Worley said Sheldon requested the money be donated to her Spanish Club, which is engaged in several activities outside of the classroom and outside of the U.S. That impressed Hayden officials.
"We were so moved and touched by her generosity and effort that we decided to double it," Worley said.
And at lunchtime in Sheldon's high school homeroom, Worley and Hayden representative John Hirsch presented the club with a check for $1,000.
"It's all these kids," Sheldon said as the smell of freshly made quesadillas wafted on the air. "The reason I get up and come here are these kids."
Sheldon said the club raises money to help support two children in South America, a 5-year-old in Bolivia and a soon to graduate high school 17-year-old in Brazil. The club also sells those quesadillas - $2,006.56 worth in 2017 - for efforts such as helping provide fruit trees in Central America and nurses in Africa.
"We try to do a little bit of goodness on each continent," Sheldon said.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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