LUBBOCK, Texas — Instead of snacks and drinks, this green, lit-up vending machine is stocked with books and it’s a unique way of keeping an educator’s legacy alive.
Jill Reep tragically passed away in 2019. Reep was an educator for 24 years at Ropes Elementary and taught math, reading, and technology. She was also involved in coaching many extracurriculars and advising organizations outside the classroom.
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“Well, the students all loved Jill and she was involved,” Principal, Dr. Danny McNab said. “She was just visible in our community in just about everything.”
Following her passing, Reep’s sister, Kim, came to the school with the idea of a book vending machine and funds from their family to make it happen.
“When the family came to us with the donation, we were so excited and so we’ve learned all we could about how it worked,” Andrea Calvitt, who teaches social studies and science at Ropes. “The parent-teacher organization, the RTA, the Ropes Eagle Association, helped us buy the books to go in for the first round, and we just got it set up.”