Eggs-tra credit for Deep Creek teachers

Deep Creek Elementary School held an Easter egg hunt last Friday, but this one was for the teachers, not the students.

"This offers good morale for the teachers, and it provides for a good camaraderie on the job," said guidance counselor Jennifer Ford, who organized the third annual event with school secretary Mary Swears.

Ford enlists sponsorships from area businesses to provide prizes for the teachers..

"Each year more businesses come in and participate," she said. "It gives you a warm feeling that people are giving back to teachers, who have one of the most important, and hardest, jobs there is."

The newly opened Gotti's Grinders on Cedar Road provided the grand prize this year: a free sub each month for a year. It was found by substitute teacher Tina Fox. Other area businesses donating prizes were Andrea's Pizzeria, Aqua Leisure Pools, Miss Marion's Soul Food, Nails First, Potts N Paints, Fancy Stuff Boutique, Lawrence Pharmacy, Chesapeake Honey Glazed Ham & Bread Co. and E.W.B.A. (Eat Well. Be Active).

After everyone left school, March 20, assistant principal Jay Luter stuck around to hide 200 plastic Easter eggs up and down the hallways, on water fountains, above classroom doors and on window sills. Some contained prize coupons, others had cash donated by an anonymous patron, and others had candies.

The faculty arrived early March 21 to hunt eggs.

"They usually arrive at about 7:40 each morning. This time they came in at 7, before the students," Ford said. "And when they came in it was like turning back the hands of time: they were all children again. They were running around the halls like kids."

Ford said she made the mistake of placing the business-donated prizes in shiny eggs, which made them THE sought-out items.

"Once they figured this out they were hysterically looking for those shiny eggs," she said. "I'll know better next year."

The hunt, however, served its purpose: allowing the faculty to have fun.

"This is important for them," Ford explained. "It's a great way, and a small way, to thank them, pat them on the back."

Eric Feber, 222-5203, eric.feber@pilotonline.com