Sara Ferguson, Pennsylvania Teacher Working For Free, Gets Surprise On Ellen Degeneres Show

Teachers from the troubled Chester Upland School District in Pennsylvania made the news when they opted to continue teaching for free, after the district revealed that it could no longer to afford to pay its staff.

Now, the poster teacher for the initiative can bring something home to her school: Ellen Degeneres has presented Columbus Elementary School -- where Ferguson teaches math and literacy -- with a $100,000 check from JCPenney. Ferguson also received a personal gift card while a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show.

Since Ferguson was featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer piece reporting that Chester Upland teachers had resolved to keep working without pay "as long as we are able," the elementary school teacher has represented the local group of educators nationally. She joined Michelle Obama in the First Lady's Box at the State of the Union address, and blogged for HuffPost about her experience and issues in public schools.

"I never dreamed in a million years that I would be at the White House with the President and the First Lady," Ferguson says in the Ellen segment. "And I tell the young people, you'll never know where you'll end up. You can't even imagine where you'll go one day."

About 80 percent of the students attending Chester Upland schools are on a free and reduced lunch program, and the graduation rate is around 53 percent. Budget cuts have cost the district 40 percent of its teaching staff and 50 percent of its support staff.

"Many times we speak about our beliefs and our values and our convictions, but here at chester upland we were put to the test," Ferguson said. "People always say children first, and we showed the entire country that we do put children first."

Comments

[cinger7]

11:51 AM on 02/04/2012

Gov't failed. Gov't owes these teachers for services rendered. Way to go Teachers, Ellen, JCP, etc., but this is a Gov't failure to educate. What happens when we reduce and reduce education funding? What do companies site about why they aren't hiring here, lack of an educated job pool?

[dbrett480]

08:29 PM on 02/03/2012

Wait a minute. I thought all teachers were overpaid and underworked. At least that's what I've been told by people with "real jobs" in the private sector.

[MasterKat]

12:45 PM on 02/03/2012

This will sound trite, but I am so moved. Way to go, Ms. Ferguson! You and your collegues are fantastic, wonderful human beings! I know you'll continue to make a difference in children's lives for as long as you are able!

[Isnt that special]

12:28 PM on 02/03/2012

Spending all this money on wars and God knows what else and meanwhile we have the nerve to say we can't pay our teachers that educate our children for the future. There’s a fund for it, so what exactly happened?? This is exactly what I can't stand. Didn't we spend trillions these past couple of years??? On what, beats me! Thank GOD we have people like Ms Ferguson who genuinely care and are in a position where they can until. Kudos to Ellen for taking the time to feature Ms Ferguson and the good she and the other teachers have and are willing to do and sacrifice for the sake of the children. Teachers really are beautiful…

[bcollegeprep]

11:41 AM on 02/03/2012

Sara Ferguson's story hit home I have read numerous comments and America would like to help. I found a fund set up by PSEA for these teachers in Chester,PA......confirm by calling 717-255-7000 the address is:

PSEA-c /o Chester Upland School District Teachers (CUSD-Teachers)
400 North 3rd Street
P.O. Box 1724
Harrisburg, PA 17105

[Freedom Mama]

11:20 AM on 02/03/2012

Hats off to this teacher for dedication. I'm glad Ellen was able to do something for her.

[the gentrys]

11:12 AM on 02/03/2012

I don't care why they gave the money I'm just glad they did. And Ellen is Awesome,she must feel so good that she can be part of that.

[Dave Ruda]

11:09 AM on 02/03/2012

The teachers are making an interesting comment about the value of what they do I'm sure there are those in the community who say, "Why should we pay them anything if they'll work for free?" Education is only a compression of experience. So what if the community kids are 40 by the time they learn what they could have in school by the time they are 18?

[Linda Wheeler Weigel]

09:54 AM on 02/03/2012

I bet you that teacher will spend that $5000 at JC Penney for those kids too! I think that is the kind of person she is! I don't understand how a public school can fall through the cracks like that. Shame on Pennsylvania and shame on the gov't.

[shlack123]

09:20 AM on 02/03/2012

This is a prime example of the types of teachers we need. Bravo!

[madhatter05]

07:23 AM on 02/03/2012

I am from Chester, although I no longer live there. Anyone from SE Pennsylvania knows that the Chester-Upland School District has been the red-headed step child for various administrations in Pennsylvania and used as an example of what was wrong with public education. I'm glad to see that the hard working teachers there are getting the national recognition that they deserve. I had great teachers there and managed to make it through college and law school with the "sub-par" education that I received (according to the powers that be in Harrisburg). Chester, a former factory town, has so many socio-economic problems that get ignored and the teachers are always scapegoated. Good job to Ms. Ferguson and to all Chester teachers!

[thetalkdiva]

08:40 AM on 02/03/2012

I agree. I'm also a Chester native and graduated from Chester High School. Back then, of course, things were a lot better economically. We had some of the best teachers and I will stack my education up against anyones. I see, Ms. Ferguson, is carrying on that tradition of teachers who care and put children first. It would be wonderful if former Chester residents could band together to help raise money for the schools. I don't understand how Gov. Corbett can sleep at night withholding these vital funds from the students of Chester-Upland, while trying his best to keep the gas industry relatively tax and regulation free. I applaud Ms. Ferguson for all she has done. We need to support her and the children of Chester in any way we can. God Bless you Ms. Ferguson and all the other teachers who are there with you.

[Vgman]

04:55 AM on 02/03/2012

Kudos to Ellen for her recognition to the teachers. Kudos to the teachers still doing the job. Shame on the politicians, the parents who don't support teachers, and those that think education is going to get better with charter schools and private schools few can afford. Good going America, your silence on this issue says it all.

[Mamadea]

12:25 AM on 02/03/2012

THAT'S American values right there!!

[eceresa]

10:47 PM on 02/02/2012

Right now, lots of Republican politicians and too many Democrats are trying to figure out how to extend this trend. It's the logical extension of their education policy.

[duel1980]

10:09 PM on 02/02/2012

Shame on you PA for letting your teachers starve. Talk about having your priorities crooked. No wonder our country is going down the tubes. In countries where their kids do well in school (take your pick, Canada Finland Sweden South Korea Singapore, everyone else) you don't hear about them being cheap on their teachers. But somehow we always find money for wars...hmmm....