Contributed
Harrell & Beverly Transmissions & Auto Repair has awarded $1,500 in classroom supply grants to two outstanding Seminole County teachers as part of its annual Teacher Classroom Supply Giveaway. The locally owned auto repair shop received an overwhelming 271 nominations from parents, coworkers, students, and community members eager to recognize the educators making a difference in their lives.
The giveaway, now in its second year, was launched to show support for local teachers and help offset the cost of classroom supplies. Originally, the team planned to award a single $1,000 grant. But after seeing the heartfelt responses pouring in, they decided to add an additional $500 runner-up award.
This year’s top award recipient is Mr. Matthew Thomas, a first-year teacher at Lyman High School in Longwood. After working for over two decades as an electrician, Mr. Thomas recently made the leap into teaching, volunteering at Lyman before officially joining the staff this spring. He now teaches HVAC, electrical, construction, and plumbing. His classes are part of Lyman’s robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, where students can earn industry certifications and gain hands-on experience that prepares them for real-world jobs. Mr. Thomas used his classroom funds to purchase woodworking tools and other materials to help bring the trades to life for his students.
The $500 runner-up award went to Ms. Ramona Henderson, a veteran educator at Midway Elementary School of the Arts in Sanford. Ms. Henderson is known for her compassion, resourcefulness, and fierce dedication to her students. She often purchases essentials like socks and undergarments for children in need and has helped struggling readers make multi-year gains in a single school year. With her award, she purchased dozens of books to gift to students who can’t afford the book fair and other tools to support her hands-on teaching approach.
“Both of these teachers embody the heart of what this giveaway is all about,” said Nelson Beverly, one of the owners of Harrell & Beverly. “They go above and beyond every day. We’re just honored to support the incredible work they’re doing.”
Nelson and his brother Lloyd, co-owners of Harrell & Beverly, were both born and raised in Sanford. They attended Seminole County Public Schools, including Pinecrest Elementary, Millennium Middle, and Seminole High. Their mother, Melynda Beverly, also taught in the district for many years. Supporting local educators is personal for the Beverly family.
This year’s giveaway was made possible in part by JASPER Engines & Transmissions, who partnered with Harrell & Beverly to help fund the initiative.
“We’re already thinking about how to grow this next year,” said Christina Grace Beverly, Marketing Director at Harrell & Beverly. “We were blown away by the number of nominations and the stories we read. There are so many teachers doing incredible work behind the scenes. We want them to know they’re seen, appreciated, and supported.”
