Longtime Lynnfield resident Mark Vitagliano announced the Lynnfield Loves Our Teachers (LLOTs) campaign last month to support and provide the town’s teachers with “small wins.” For the campaign, he is soliciting local businesses and asking them to offer teachers with school IDs a discount.
“The message is loud and clear from our teachers that they’re not feeling heard,” Vitagliano said. “They’re not feeling appreciated, and the morale is low in the school system right now. So, while thinking about other ways we can help other than being vocal at School Committee meetings and publicly voicing our opinion, I thought about what we could do to instantly signal to the teachers, parents, and staff at the schools that the community supports them and that we’re behind them.”
Vitagliano then reached out to residents with businesses in the town. In a week, he rounded up roughly 20 businesses that were ready to provide discounts to teachers and show support in their own ways.
From Chicken & The Pig to Lamusta Landscaping, businesses, including fitness studios, beauty bars, and entertainment venues, are offering 10-25% discounts. According to Vitagliano, btone FITNESS, Re-create Studio, and other businesses are joining forces to show appreciation for educators. Lindsay King donated vouchers for 200 free coffees and more. Randy Greenstein offers a significant “Big Night Out” at one of his 12 restaurants.
“The outpour of support has been incredible,” Vitagliano said. “It’s just been so heartwarming to see everybody banding together for our teachers. I can’t change the culture personally. I can’t change morale. But what I can do is rally support and do an initiative like this.”
Due to the overwhelming support, Vitagliano is planning to introduce a nomination process through which parents or residents can nominate teachers. The winners would then be chosen and given passes to the “Big Night Out” and dinner for two at Davio’s at MarketStreet.
“What we are trying to tell the teachers is that ‘We’re with you. We have your back. We love you, and hopefully, this puts a smile on your face.’ Hopefully, this helps the teachers around the holidays to get discounts at local restaurants and businesses. And I think it makes an impact as well,” Vitagliano said.
