Serena Hills Teacher Wins Stock of Classroom Supplies

Passionate third-grade teacher Kailey Arrivo was one of the lucky ones to receive a stock of classroom goodies from Peapod.

The online “Back to School Bonanza” promotion, in partnership with Reckitt and Kimberly-Clark, asked for nominations of special teachers deserving of a $500 classroom stock-up from Kleenex and Lysol.

Arrivo, 24, is a first-year teacher at Serena Hills Elementary School in Chicago Heights, and was one of six recipients nationwide.

She received $500 worth of Lysol and Kleenex products and other school supplies for her classroom, and Peapod tacked on an additional $500 in Peapod gift cards.

“I felt extremely blessed and thankful to have been chosen for the donation. It’s my first year teaching, and supply-wise, I didn’t know what I was getting into. This donation was a lifesaver,” Arrivo told the Times of Northwest Indiana. 

“It is extremely common for teachers to spend their own money (on supplies). I believe that teachers want their students to be successful and that often requires going out and purchasing those supplies to help them be the best learners they can.”

When students have been financially unable to bring in their own supplies, Kailey has happily provided whatever needs necessary out of her own pocket. She loves her students, job, and school, and is happy to help out in any way she can.

A Flossmoor native, Arrivo attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School and graduated with an elementary education degree from the University of Iowa in 2012.

Now a Chicago resident, she spends free time working with the youth group at the Flossmoor Community Church, and is a coach for the Girls on the Run program at Serena Hills.  

“I believe that there are people who are born to do things, and I know I was born to be a teacher."