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Greenwood Elementary Staff Room Gets a Makeover Through Partnership with Walmart

Posted Date: 10/06/26 (09:38 AM)
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photo of woman painting a brick wall with a rolling paint brushwoman on top of a book shelf painting brick with a brushgreenwood staff in their updated staff room

Greenwood Elementary School surprised educators with a newly renovated staff room, thanks to a series of grants and in-person support from Walmart. The project transformed the school’s dated and dingy staff room into a more comfortable and welcome space to eat lunch and take breaks. 

The makeover began last fall when Ellen Lester, an educator with deep ties to Greenwood who now serves as the district's Media Specialist and TAG Coordinator, received an email from Walmart about a "Makeover" grant opportunity. She applied on a whim and, by spring, learned that Greenwood had been selected.

Walmart’s support came in stages:

  • An initial $1,000 in Crayola products
  • $3,000 in Walmart gift certificates to begin redoing the staff room
  • An additional $2,500 local grant from Walmart in late June
  • A further $1,000 in gift cards presented when Walmart corporate representatives visited Greenwood

With the funding, the school cleaned and repainted the room (including the ceiling), removed old built-in fixtures, and added new furniture. The space now includes a fully stocked drink fridge, real plates and bowls, a coffee maker (and coffee!), and a new ceiling fan. Lester put the finishing touch on the room with an original mural she painted on the back wall. The leftover funds will be used to keep the room stocked with drinks and snacks for staff throughout the year.

Greenwood staff, community members, and former students volunteered their time to paint, clean, and decorate the space. On August 12, several Walmart associates joined the effort for a full day of painting and cleaning alongside the school community.

"We have wanted to focus on having enough seating for our staff," said Dr. Madeline Koenig, principal of Greenwood Elementary School. "We wanted it to feel a little bit more cozy and updated, because it was old and kind of gross."

“We are grateful to Walmart and the associates who came,” Lester said.

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