ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – You don’t usually see too many Corvettes hanging out in K-8 school parking lots — let alone 18 of them.
But when local Corvette club Corvettes of the Bay holds their Teacher Appreciate Day, they roll up deep.
For teachers and staff of the small St. Joseph School in Ashwaubenon, it was their turn for some recess fun — a spin in a ‘Vette and a free lunch across town at the Village Grille in Allouez.
For many of the teachers, it was their first time in the iconic American muscle car.
Corvettes of the Bay board member Chuck Templer is a retired educator and spearheaded Tuesday’s event.
“I kind of have a place in my heart for teachers. And, along with that, the fact that I know they don’t get to do this real often. To go out to lunch all together as an entire staff is really something that doesn’t happen real often for teachers.”
Templer says the small size of the school also made St. Joseph a great fit — after all, Corvettes aren’t exactly family-haulers.
School principal Pamela Otto helped plan the surprise.
All the staff knew was that they had to be outside for a recess “presentation.”
“They always are giving up their lunch time to work with a student or take their recess and things like that, so this is my opportunity- – and the school board worked with me — to scoot them off to lunch,” says Otto, who stayed behind to help keep an eye on the kids.
And according to teacher Elizabeth Haen, they really didn’t have any clue what was about to happen.
“I’m like, ‘Wow! Look at all those cars! I bet we’re going to have a parade or something today!’” Haen remembers thinking as the Corvettes lined up.
“So, we were all excited, and we go out, and all of the sudden Pamela’s like, ‘Everybody pick a car and go in a car’ and we’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is awesome!’”
Haen picked a bold blue Corvette, her favorite color. But what about a quick spin?
“I didn’t know if I could handle it, so…” laughed Haen as she declined the idea.
Maybe next time.
And if Corvettes of the Bay has its way, there will be more events to come at other schools.
It’s the third time they’ve hosted a Teacher Appreciate Day as a club, and they hope to make it a club tradition.
