• Reuben Johnson Elementary's Kristine McGuire celebrates a $5000 donation of classroom supplies from Honda that was revealed during a surprise presentation on May 12 during the school's end of year field day.
• The Helpful Honda Team chose Reuben Johnson Elementary's Kristine McGuire for a $5000 donation of classroom supplies.
• The Helpful Honda Team chose Reuben Johnson Elementary's Kristine McGuire for a $5000 donation of classroom supplies that they revealed on May 12 during a surprise presentation.
• As her family looks on, Reuben Johnson Elementary's Kristine McGuire celebrates a $5000 donation of classroom supplies from Honda that was revealed during a surprise presentation on May 12.
• With her students, Reuben Johnson Elementary's Kristine McGuire celebrates a $5000 donation of classroom supplies from Honda that was revealed during a surprise presentation on May 12.
• Reuben Johnson Elementary's Kristine McGuire received a surprise $5000 donation of classroom supplies from Honda that was revealed during a presentation on May 12.

McKinney, Texas – Until the representatives from the Helpful Honda Team called her name, first grade teacher Kristine McGuire had no idea that the students and staff gathered in the cafeteria at Reuben Johnson Elementary on May 12 where there to honor her.

The Honda reps called her forward, and amid cheers from her colleagues and students, McGuire picked her way carefully through the crowd, still unsure about why she had been singled out. And, then the Honda representatives pulled back the stage curtain to reveal a long table overflowing with $5000 worth of instructional items and supplies for her classroom next year. And, then her husband and children appeared from around the corner.

The Helpful Honda Team chose Reuben Johnson Elementary’s Kristine McGuire for a $5000 donation of classroom supplies that they revealed on May 12 during a surprise presentation.

As she hugged her family and took in the vast expanse of items laid out before her, it was all a bit overwhelming for McGuire, a 24-year educator who has invested the past 20 years of her career at Reuben Johnson Elementary.

The Helpful Honda Team chose Reuben Johnson Elementary’s Kristine McGuire for a $5000 donation of classroom supplies.

“This means more than the world to me right now,” she said afterward. “When teachers get recognized, it means a lot to all of us, doing what we do everyday, loving these kids and making sure that not only their educational needs are met, but their social needs are met, too. To be recognized with all of these amazing classroom items is such a blessing. I’m so overwhelmed by everything that is there.”

Reuben Johnson Elementary’s Kristine McGuire is surrounded by students as they celebrate the $5000 worth of classroom supplies and items donated by the Helpful Honda Team.

The Helpful Honda Team looks for extraordinary teachers to support with gestures such as this, so RJE Principal Michelle Baumann submitted the application nominating McGuire a couple of months ago. McGuire, who was RJE’s Teacher of the Year in 2019, was chosen from among more than 150 worthy candidates.

“Kristine McGuire has children who attended here,” said Baumann. “She’s also served as team leader for multiple years, and this year, her oldest child, a former RJE student, is going off to college. And, because Kristine often invests so much of her personal finances into her classroom to make it a warm and special place, I found an opportunity to nominate her for the Helpful Honda Team teacher appreciation event.”

There was no doubt that McGuire felt appreciated. With a smile on her face, McGuire looked ahead to the 2023–2024 school year. “We are going to have a fabulous year,” she said.

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