LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones hosted his third annual back-to-school fair for Title I teachers in District F, providing more than 185 educators with free classroom supplies ahead of the new school year.
On average, each teacher left the event with approximately $500 worth of supplies, including paper, crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, expo markers, whiteboards, glue sticks, highlighters, and rulers. The county said many of these educators spend hundreds of dollars of their own money each year on classroom materials.
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Nick Carter joins the effort
Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter, who lives in Las Vegas, joined Commissioner Jones at the event to meet educators and help distribute supplies. Jones said Carter reached out to his fanbase to generate donations.
“He put the word out and we got boxes and boxes of support from his many fans to make sure that we had all the supplies necessary to help out more than 185 teachers,” Jones said.
Teachers respond to the relief
Sheri Clineman, a second-grade teacher at Wright Elementary School and a 21-year veteran of the Clark County School District, said she has attended the fair for three consecutive years.
“In the past, I’ve spent hundreds of dollars every single year on school supplies,” Clineman said. “If it’s not funded by our school, and if it doesn’t come from parents, it comes from teachers’ pockets.”
Alissa Iida, a school counselor at Derfelt Elementary School, said the event addresses a consistent funding gap.
“With an event like this, we are very appreciative because sometimes we don’t have the funding that we need in order to purchase everything that we need for our classrooms,” Iida said.
More than supplies
The fair also included a catered lunch, live music, caricature artists, and professional massages, giving teachers an opportunity to relax before students return to class.
Jones said the event has drawn sponsors for all three years it has been held.
“We’ve had tremendous sponsors that have joined us in this effort for the last three years,” Jones said. “Almost $500 each teacher so they can get back to school on Monday and make sure that they’re ready to go for our kids.”
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