GREENSBORO, N.C. — Teachers are constantly planning to better tomorrow’s future leaders but can be overlooked sometimes. Members of one community came together to give back to them. 

When Morgan Simpson, an insurance specialist with The Horace Mann Cos., walked into Bessemer Elementary School's teachers lounge earlier this year, she knew something needed to be done. 

The teachers lounge before renovation at Bessemer Elementary School. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

“One of the teachers mentioned that when she was making books, she would have to actually set the papers out on the sofa,” Simpson said. 

After seeing little counter space, furniture that was falling apart and teachers not being able to relax and have space to prep for their classes, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work. 

“I wanted them to have a space to get what they needed done. I wanted them to be comfortable. And when they walked in, I wanted them to feel like they were cared about and that they were seen,” Simpson said. 

Simpson’s company was founded by educators for educators, and many of the helping hands involved in this renovation were former teachers, including Mary Gunyuzlu, general manager of Paul Davis Restoration of the Triad East.

“It's nice to know that people really do still care about teachers and their success in their profession, their comfort and their happiness in their job,” said Gunyuzlu, who taught for close to 20 years. 

Teachers get a look at their newly renovated lounge at Bessemer Elementary. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

Gunyuzlu and her team helped paint, build and add lighting to the space, and they had donations from The Barnabas Furniture Bank, From Here 2 Here, Ashley Outlet, and discounts from the Sherwin-Williams Paint Store. Many of the companies and volunteers are related to educators, including interior designer, Sarah Harper, the founder of Kreyatif Global Enterprises Inc., who is a former educator.

“We already know that in this work there's a lot of stressful components that happens in our lives, personal lives and work life. But to come in a space where you can just escape for a moment, I thought that was remarkable,” Harper said. 

Harper helped select a calming sage paint color and picked furniture to help make the teachers feel special.

“The teacher is the first thing that they [students] see every day. And we want our teachers to be as positive as possible and calm as possible and really feeling refreshed and excited about what they have been called to do and this to serve our children,” Harper said. 

The newly renovated teachers lounge at Bessemer Elementary. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

Through what the team says was a lot of prayers, luck and tireless work, it finally all came together just in time for the new school year. Teachers and staff members already are enjoying the new space. 

“I would have loved to build a lounge to be like this. This is just so, so calming. Teachers deserve to have nice things,” said Beth Ashworth, the school’s registered nurse and a former teacher. 

Staff members including teachers, Principal Jonathan Brooks, Assistant Principal Avery Steel and Interim Principal Matthew Killian also helped work and support the project. 

“It’s a very, very special team from the top down here. Their leadership is great, their teachers are great. Their support staff is great,” Simpson said.