In its 11th consecutive year, the City of Tyler hosted its highly anticipated annual School Is Cool on Thursday evening at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. The community event brought together thousands of residents, businesses and organizations to contribute essential school supplies for students in need, including 2,000 backpacks generously donated by sponsors.
“It’s huge,” said Leanne Robinette, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Tyler. “We started 11 years ago with about 250 backpacks and we’ve gotten to 2,000 since then … which we feel like is our sweet spot. We feel that meets the need.”
The backpacks were packed with essential school supplies, including paper, folders, pens and notebooks. These backpacks were designed to provide students with the necessary tools to begin the school year with confidence and readiness.
“My favorite part is just seeing the children walk away with smiles on their faces … excited to start school,” Robinette said. “It’s very rewarding.”
The initiative aims to ensure every student has access to the fundamental materials needed for academic success, ultimately contributing to a smoother and more productive start to their educational journey.
“We have lots of awesome volunteers that are … helping with the flow of traffic and showing people where to get the backpacks, the extra supplies,” Robinette said. “We couldn’t do it without our volunteers.”
The event also offered areas where students could receive the necessary immunizations.
The drive not only aimed to equip children with the tools they need for academic success but also fostered a spirit of generosity and communal support within Tyler. Through the collective efforts of the community, the event continued its tradition of making a positive impact on the educational experiences of local students.
In her first year attending, Tyler mom Aireka Sanders was impressed with the event.
“It’s great seeing them giving back to the community and giving us a chance to be involved with the things that vendors have going on, as well as giving our kids a chance to kind of mingle and meet other kids as well,” she said.
This year, 54 vendors contributed to the event by providing essential community support, resources, and a range of enjoyable activities and giveaways for children and their families. Attendees also enjoyed sweet treats from Kona Ice and Tiffy’s Treats.
Families had the opportunity to explore a range of community resources and take advantage of the chance for their children to receive complimentary haircuts courtesy of HeadMasters Salon, located within the Tyler Rose Garden Museum.
“We love to give back,” said HeadMasters marketing director Onava Safarik. “Our owner has the biggest heart in the world. I tell her all the time that her heart is the size of Texas. She wants to give back to everyone in every situation she possibly can.”…Read more by Jennifer Scott
