Teachers turned plain Title I school bathrooms into uplifting spaces with paint, posters, and purpose
NEED TO KNOW
- Emily Gilreath is a first-grade teacher at Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Alabama
- During her three years of teaching, she noticed the school bathrooms felt dull and uninspired
- In July, she and a few other teachers took it upon themselves to create a colorful and welcoming environment for their students
In the heat of July, while many were still savoring the last stretch of summer, one dedicated first-grade teacher from Birmingham, Ala., chose to spend a full week transforming her school in a unique and heartfelt way.
With the help of three fellow teachers and two friends, Emily Gilreath, 28, painted all four of the bathrooms for first- and second-graders at Pleasant Grove Elementary School.
She had come up with the idea months prior while walking a group of students to the restroom. Once they reached their destination, she noticed just how plain and uninspiring the walls were…