Sandrine Demathieu, a kindergarten teacher at Nystrom Elementary, has seen her students grow so much this year. She credits part of that success to a small tool: tiny little chalkboards and grip blocks purchased with her Gratitude Grant, which helped them “to write their names correctly, write the letters correctly,” she said.
“Gratitude Grants have made a huge difference because I’ve been able to invest in resources and tools,” she said.
Demathieu was one of many educators and members of the West Contra Costa education community who gathered at the RYSE Youth Center on Friday, May 29, for the Chamberlin Education Foundation’s Gratitude Grants Happy Hour.
The event celebrated this year’s grant recipients with drinks, food from La More Kitchen, and opportunities to decompress and build community. Tabling partners included Diversity in Leadership Institute, New Leaders, and Lead Liberated, organizations that support educators through leadership development and administrator credential pathways.
Demathieu said the event itself provided something valuable as well. “It’s nice to feel connected because (teachers can) feel so isolated,” she said.
She noted that gathering with teachers from across West Contra Costa helps keep educators in the district. “It’s harder to leave and go to a different district when you love the people here,” she said. “Community is not just a nice buzzword. It means something.”
Sarah Suson, a 10th-grade English teacher and coach at Making Waves Academy, attended with her colleague Jenny Tan, a 9th-grade English teacher she also coaches. They reflected on the end of the school year with pride.
“We just did our last data dive for the year, so we looked at a lot of data, talked about things that were working and things that weren’t working in the classroom,” she said. “I feel really proud of the work that my kids have done this year.”
Tan noted that she tried new things this year and also simplified her instruction. A highlight for her this year was at the end of a poetry unit, when her students combined their work into a zine. “It’s cool that they are producing something tangible, that they can see, and be proud of,” she said.
Suson said hearing about the zine Tan’s students’ produced was heartwarming. “I’m proud of our student growth and our teacher growth this year,” she said.
Jeff Carter, Acting Associate Superintendent of Business Services for West Contra Costa Unified School District, attended the happy hour and shared his own end-of-year accomplishment: getting the 26-27 budget completed. “We got that submitted today,” he said.
Carter said he is looking forward to a fresh start, the next school year, and positive momentum. “We want to get morale back up,” he said. “That’s the big thing.”
Around the tabling area, attendees asked about leadership pathways, credential preparation, and anti-racist initiatives.
Amber Saberton from Lead Liberated said attendees have been interested in learning more about the Antiracist Collective fellowship, and accessing workshops and clinics.
Niara Woods from New Leaders said she has been sharing information about the National Aspiring Principal Fellowship and support for teachers looking to advance into school leadership. “It’s for everyone,” she said, “but we also have a session specifically for Gratitude Grant recipients, with the support that the Chamberlin Education Foundation provides, for teachers looking to advance into school leadership.”
Sherifa Miranda-Tiamiyu from the Diversity in Leadership Institute said she has been inspired to speak with many teachers who are aligned with the mission of transforming the educational system for equity.
“To hear their passion and how they really want to make an impact, that drive, is very inspiring,” Miranda-Tiamiyu said.
Jason Hudson from Collins Elementary, Randee Mason, and Rosalinda Cruz from Pinole Valley High School all work in special education. They each attended the happy hour for the first time.
Mason said the timing was perfect. “It’s nice that it’s at the end of the year, the time when we need it most, because it gets stressful,” she said. “To be able to relax and chill with other teachers, especially on Friday, is one of the best things.”
For Cruz, a highlight of the school year was also her students’ growth. For Hudson, it was the connections he made with students. “I’m proud of them,” he said.
The 2026 Gratitude Grants Happy Hour was all about showing up for one another. Teachers from across West Contra Costa came together because that is what this community does. And on a beautiful Friday evening at the end of the 2025-26 school year, that commitment was on full display at the RYSE Center.
