Local Teachers Receive Classroom Makeovers from Addition Financial

LAKE MARY, Fla – Four deserving Central Florida teachers hit the ground running when the 2024-2025 school year started this August, receiving free “dream makeovers” for their respective classrooms.

Through their sixth annual Renovate to Educate Contest, Addition Financial Credit Union selected one public school teacher from Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties to receive a free classroom makeover, providing renovations of roughly $3,500 per classroom. Teachers from those counties applied for renovations by submitting an essay about their visions for a dream classroom.

The classroom reveals took place from July 29 through August 1, where teachers had the opportunity to see their brand-new classrooms come to life with school district officials and Addition Financial representatives on hand.

“As a credit union founded by educators, Addition Financial has a deep appreciation for the lasting impact teachers have on their students and how the classroom environment can play an important role in their day-to-day learning,” said Nora Rodriguez-Patterson, the Chief Communications Officer for Addition Financial. “For us, this more than a financial donation; our credit union donates our time and resources to build a stronger community.  We are proud to come alongside our school district partners to complement the vision and extraordinary experience these dedicated teachers provide their young learners.”

This year’s winners are:

• Mickeya Harris, 3rd grade teacher at Palmetto Elementary School in Orlando
• Pamela Batlemento, school psychologist in a kindergarten-first grade trauma center classroom at Neptune Elementary School in St. Cloud
• Brianna Balch, teaches deaf and hard of hearing students in Pre-K to 2nd grade at Altamonte Elementary School, in Altamonte Springs
• Morgan Hebner, 5th grade teacher at Sorrento Elementary school in Sorrento

This year’s Seminole County winner, Brianna Balch, teaches at Altamonte Elementary School, specifically to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Pre-K to 2nd grade. In her winning essay she wrote that a classroom makeover would amplify the commitment to these students, “creating an environment that not only caters to their unique educational requirements but also fosters a sense of pride and ownership.”

After the long-awaited reveal of the finished product, Ms. Balch said she can’t wait to see her students enjoy and experience the brighter, more welcoming space.

“Everything is just so nicely set up and ready for them to learn,” said Balch. “This is just a great environment for them to pick up things and actually learn from their environment.”

To bring the teachers’ visions to life, Addition Financial teamed up with Seminole State College’s Interior Design program, hiring paid interns to collaborate with each individual teacher while gaining hands-on, real-world experience. Then more than 20 volunteers from Addition Financial did the painting and furniture building, completing the classroom renovations in four separate three-day windows during the summer, leading up to the big reveals.