The Fayette Area Historical Initiative (FAHI) Museum has launched a new initiative in collaboration with alumni from several Martinsville High School graduating classes to support local teachers. The project, dubbed the “Teacher’s Closet,” aims to ease the financial burden teachers face when buying classroom supplies.
“Several graduating classes have chosen to come back home and give to the community,” said James Dallas, one of the organizers. The idea originated at a reunion when Martinsville Schools Superintendent Dr. Zeb Talley encouraged alumni to find ways to give back.
“Teachers continue to come out of their pockets for money for school supplies,” Dallas said, noting that schools often struggle to provide adequate resources. Teachers, he added, frequently step up to ensure students have what they need for a quality education.
While some progress has been made in recent years, the alumni saw an opportunity to offer additional support. The Teacher’s Closet will officially open in January, just in time for the start of the second semester. Teachers will be able to access supplies to keep their classrooms running smoothly.
“We threw a lot of things on the wall,” said Dallas about brainstorming ideas for the project. Establishing a supply closet, he explained, was a simple yet impactful way to begin.
Faye Holland, vice-chairman of the FAHI board, helped get the ball rolling, and Bridgett Carter hopes local businesses will contribute donations to sustain the project.
“We are going to try to get some community partners,” she added.
To determine what teachers needed most, the alumni collected school supply lists from the district. “We had one composite list and then we had donations. We had thousands of dollars of donations,” Carter said, noting that the initial funding came from alumni contributions. Talley will help notify teachers about the new resource.
The alumni group also has ambitions beyond the Teacher’s Closet. “We’re looking at the possibility of getting a community center off the ground,” said Dallas. He envisions naming the center after his father, Bruce H.T. Dallas, Sr., to honor his legacy.
The senior Dallas served two terms on Martinsville City Council, and was a dedicated community activist until his death in 2007. “We want that name and that legacy to live on,” James Dallas said.
Because alumni now live in different areas, FAHI stepped in as a central location to house the closet and receive donations. Supplies have been collected through Amazon deliveries and direct donations at the museum.
“This allows us to meet the needs of city teachers and also bring more people into the museum to see the displays and exhibits we have,” said Joyce Staples, chairman of the FAHI board. Staples emphasized the importance of showcasing African American history in both the city and county.
As a former public school teacher with 24 years of experience, Staples also challenged alumni of George Washington Carver High School to consider ways to support the county’s schools.
