.:: WHAT ARE TRUNKS FOR TEACHERS ::.
.:: WHO MAY CHECK OUT TRUNKS ::.
.:: CIRCULATION PERIODS OF TRUNKS ::.
.:: REQUESTING TRUNKS ::.
.:: TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY ::.
.:: TRUNK LIABILITY ::.
.:: DELIVERY OF TRUNKS ::.
.:: CONTACT INFO ::.

WHAT ARE TRUNKS FOR TEACHERS? [back to top]
CYPRESS’s primary goal is to make students aware of societal and historical injustices and, consequently, work to promote respect among individuals and groups. Our purpose in implementing a “Trunks for Teachers” program is to provide teachers with a wealth of materials to support the curriculum as they teach subjects of diversity, injustice and genocide. We know that purchasing these educational tools would be cost prohibitive for many schools and school districts and it is our pleasure to be able to provide these, on loan, for your classrooms.

The trunks contain a plethora of materials— fiction and non-fiction books, DVDs, posters, lesson plans and student activities—on the subjects of either the Holocaust or the Civil Rights Movement. There are separate trunks on each theme for middle school and high school classes. Individual materials vary in each trunk to meet a variety of reading levels, student interests, and educational benefit.

The materials in the trunks have been selected by several CYPRESS members who are either classroom teachers or a youth services librarian. All of the included items have been well-reviewed and are considered essential educational resources. Because of the nature of these topics, some books or audio-visual items are necessarily harsh, brutal and unpleasant in description or storyline. It is up to the teacher using the trunk to assess the materials for appropriateness in content, language, and ability level for the students in his/her class and to only involve students with books or other resources that are deemed suitable for the individual class or student. New materials may be added to trunks as they become available. Additional trunks will be created as the need arises on either the same subjects or different diversity issues

CYPRESS is extremely grateful for the backing of the Evansville Courier & Press’s Newspapers in Education program for their generous whole-hearted support of this endeavor.

WHO MAY CHECK OUT TRUNKS [back to top]
Any middle school or high school teacher of language arts and/or social studies who teaches units on the Holocaust or Civil Rights, including teachers in public, parochial and private schools in the area served by the Evansville Courier & Press, may request to borrow a trunk for use in his/her classroom.

CIRCULATION PERIODS OF TRUNKS [back to top]
Trunks will circulate for one month on a pre-determined schedule of check out periods. If a teacher or designated person is not able to come to the Courier to pick up the trunk on the assigned day, other arrangements will need to be made for pickup but the trunk must still be returned on the designated due date. No extensions can be made. Another school will be waiting for the trunk.

REQUESTING TRUNKS [back to top]
Teachers may request trunks through the website or by email. The email address is trunksforteachers@yahoo.com. If you use the website, you may fill out the form online and hit “send” and it will be sent to the trunks coordinator. Or you may send the form via email as a Word attachment or as part of your email. Cypress member, Sue Barancik, will be receiving emails and booking trunks. Requests will be honored in the order received. You will receive a confirmation letter acknowledging that the trunk has been booked for you.

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY [back to top]
In requesting the loan of these trunks, the teacher agrees to the following:
1. Trunks will be housed in the classroom of the requesting teacher and remain secure when unsupervised.
2. Trunks must be returned intact and on time. THERE IS A $10 PER DAY LATE FEE FOR TRUNKS NOT RETURNED ON THE DUE DATE3. Teachers will be responsible for assuring the return of all the materials in good condition. Trunks will have inventory lists of contents. Check before returning the trunk and mark any lost or damaged materials on the inventory form. Keep track of which students have the materials to save headaches later. All classroom sets and literature circle books have been numbered so that you can keep a list of who has which copy of a book.
4. Please remove all page markers, pencil notations, and sticky notes you may have put in the books.
5. Teachers are asked to complete the short evaluation form and return it in the trunk. The evaluation form is very important as it helps determine the future success of the program and will assist us in securing additional underwriters for future Trunks for Teachers.

TRUNK LIABILITY [back to top]
Each trunk has $1000-1200 in materials. We are involved in a costly venture! That is why we ask you to do the following:

1. Send a letter from your school district or principal stating that your school is responsible for any materials damaged or lost. Include the name of the teacher who will be using the trunk. This letter MUST be received one week before the trunk pickup day. Send to Sue Barancik at 1068 Jefferson Court, Newburgh, IN 47630.

2. A $50 security check, made out to Cypress, needs to be given to the person handing the teacher the trunk on checkout day. The check will be returned to the teacher when the trunk is returned if all materials are accounted for and in good condition.

DELIVERY OF TRUNKS [back to top]
It is up to the teacher, or someone representing the teacher, to pick up the trunk at the Evansville Courier on the designated day. Precise arrangements for pickup time can be made in advance with Sue Barancik of CYPRESS or with Mary Dunham of the Evansville Courier & Press. A CYPRESS member will be here to greet the teacher or representative picking up the trunk at the agreed upon time. Although the trunks have wheels, they are quite heavy so, if possible, bring someone along with you to help put it in your vehicle. In some schools, a delivery person or custodian may be willing to do the pickup and return! On return day, time arrangements can be made with Sue or Mary.

Now that we’ve run through all the rules, we want you to know that we are excited about our new initiative and we sincerely hope that you will find TRUNKS FOR TEACHERS very useful and a wonderful asset for your classroom.

CONTACT INFO [back to top]
Sue Barancik
Trunks for Teachers Coordinator
trunksforteachers@yahoo.com