I am not sure if you know the impact you made on Shearn's students with all your support and encouragement. They may not remember the test they took or the book they read this year, however, for the rest of their lives they will remember when the volunteers came and helped them fix up their school and work with them. As I told everyone on Wednesday, you made an impact on many children's lives that will last forever.

Please don't let this wonderful partnership end. I hope that many of you will be able to attend things like the State of the Schools Address given by Dr. Saavedra in February and the Teacher of the Year Banquet which honors our best in May. Your continued partnership with Houston ISD and Shearn ES is very important to us.  

Thanks for the things you did for my teachers. It reinforced their commitment to public education. You created value and empowered them by your recognition of the important work they do. We know that everything we see and touch was inspired by a teacher, whether this teacher was formally educated or passed on a craft from parent to child.

I would like to thank the following people on behalf their employees and contributions (listed alphabetically):

AIDS Foundation & Project Backpack	Patty Armstrong	Chief Operating Officer
Apache Corporation	Raymond Plank	Chairman
	Steve Farris	President and CEO
Cohen's Landscaping & Nursery	Rueven Cohen	Owner
Fund for Teachers	Karen Kovach-Webb	Executive Director
Home Depot	Robert Nardelli	Chairman, President and CEO
Jones New York	Peter Boneparth	CEO
Lollytogs, Ltd/ French Toast	Stacy Bobroff	Marketing Director
National Oilwell	Pete Miller	Chairman and CEO
Redd Rhino Landscaping	Mary Bonetti & James Rightmire, Jr.	Owners
Schlumberger Oilfield Services	John Yearwood	CEO
Transocean Incorporated	Robert Long	CEO
UBS Securities, LLC	Stephen Trauber	Vice Chairman, Managing Director
Volunteer Houston	Carrie Moffitt	Chief Executive Officer
Athletic Field Specialists, LLC	Matt Webb	Owner

With Warmest Thanks,

Mr. C.W. "Bill" Buck, Principal
Shearn Elementary School