Chamber, ECISD set to welcome new teachers

The Odessa Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Teacher Welcome event at 4 p.m. July 29 at the MCM Grande Hotel and FunDome, 6201 Business Interstate 20 in Odessa.

Marketing and Communications Specialist Allison Gray said there are 61 vendors this year to welcome the teachers. There will be finger foods as well.

“That’s banks, nonprofits they can get connected with, churches; any businesses in the area that they can connect with for various things for home or apartments; all of that,” Gray said.

More than 300 new teachers are expected during the 11th event.

Monday’s event includes vendors, gifts, door prizes and gift bags.

“It’s all just to say welcome to the community. We hope that you see the positive light that Odessa is and we hope that you stay,” Gray said.

The tote bags will include a little bit of everything. Vendors will offer things like gift cards and school supplies.

“A big thing that a lot of vendors do is they’ll do their own kind of giveaway at their specific booths on top of doing a door prize. The majority of the time we’ll cover all your school supplies … or we’ll … sponsor your classroom. It’s usually anything to help the teacher out” to make it the best year they can, Gray said.

She added that the teacher welcome is one of the chamber’s favorite events to host.

“One of our big pieces that we like to focus on is showcasing our community and bringing these people in and saying Odessa is a great place to work and live. Through this event, we’re hoping that it showcases not only our members, because all of the vendors are members of the chamber, but it also shows the new teachers that there is a lot to do here in Odessa. Everybody is friendly enough to try to come together and make it the best place to work,” Gray said.

She added that it’s just fun for everyone to have a chance to mix, mingle and network.

The come-and-go event usually lasts for two hours.

A video with State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, Chamber Board Chairman Judd Campbell, Chamber President and CEO Renee Earls, Mayor Javier Joven, and ECISD Superintendent Scott Muri will be shown during teacher training that morning, Gray said.

“This year we really wanted to focus on streamlining everything … because it has grown so much. … We wanted to be respectful of everybody’s time (so) we adjusted that. Chevron is our presenting sponsor of this. They have partnered with us, I believe, every year and through them we’re able to offer this event to the teachers,” Gray said.

She added that Chevron will also send a video.

The chamber’s teacher welcome is unique. “I think for us it’s just important to show teachers and first responders in any way … that they are valued and that we see that what they do is very valuable to our future and our growth,” Gray said.

She added that the looks on the faces of the teachers who walk in is so amazing because it’s something they don’t see every day.

“They’re always excited to get in there and start talking to everybody and the bags are always a huge hit,” Gray said.

ECISD Chief Communications Officer Mike Adkins said the opportunity for new teachers to meet people in the community right away, find a bank, an insurance agent, a place to buy a car and a church is incredibly helpful to the district.

“So for the Chamber of Commerce and the businesses and organizations that make up the chamber, to take that time and that effort to welcome teachers into ECISD is simply amazing. It doesn’t happen everywhere,” Adkins said.

“We’re really blessed to have a chamber that will do this for us, and make the staff feel that welcome,” he added.