An "A" rating, personalized learning focus and supplies donation: Gonzalez starts year on a high note

It's a Tuesday morning at Henry B. Gonzalez Personalized Learning Academy, and the students, teachers and staff have plenty to celebrate.

The school earned an "A" rating from the Texas Education Agency and is beginning its first year as a personalized learning campus. And, on this particular morning, students just received a big surprise: free backpacks and school supplies through Office Depot's philanthropic program, Start Proud!.

Office Depot associates and representatives from Domtar Paper hosted a Start Proud! assembly at Gonzalez to kick off the new school year with notable guests Dallas ISD Chief Academic Officer Ivonne Durant and David Bleisch, EVP, Chief Legal amp; Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary for Office Depot, Inc. With hundreds of students in attendance, Office Depot donated 1,000 backpacks filled with essentials like notebooks, folders, pencils, and glue to Dallas ISD, with 700 backpacks distributed to Gonzalez Personalized Learning Academy students to help them start the year off right.

During the assembly, teachers were surprised with pallets of classroom supplies, donated in part by their neighbors, through Office Depot’s in-store school supply drive program. Office Depot also recognized an exemplary teacher for their extraordinary efforts in the classroom with over $1,500 worth of premium school supplies. Additionally, parents received a $20 Office Depot merchandise card to purchase additional supplies for their child throughout the year.