News
Sports
ENLARGE
RIFLE — Kelly Olech has never worked at a McDonald's restaurant before. But that didn't stop her on Friday evening, Jan. 22, when she participated in the “McTeacher's” night at the Rifle McDonald's on Taughenbaugh Boulevard in Rifle.
Olech, who teaches first grade at Highland Elementary School in Rifle, was one of a number of teachers who worked at the restaurant from 5-8 p.m. to help raise money for their school.
“It was a lot of fun,” Olech said afterwards. “We signed up for different shifts at the lobby, the front counter and the drive-through. I liked the drive-through the best — I loved handing the food out the window.”
Sporting bright green T-shirts with the words “McTeacher's Night,” given to them by McDonald's, the group of teachers, although with no formal training, served customers with the help of the regular employees.
“We had a lot of our families come in, so they understood if we made a mistake,” Olech said with a laugh. “And we had quite a few students come through.”
It isn't the first time Highland Elementary and McDonald's have teamed up. There wasn't an event last year, but there have been several years prior.
“Over the last four years, we've done this three times with Highland Elementary,” said Klaus Minter, director of operations for McDonald's on the Western Slope, under Paul Nelson, who owns nine franchises. “We want to partnership with the community, whether it's with the school or the chamber of commerce. But we especially like to help the kids. It's good for the schools, it's good for the kids and, frankly, it's good for our business.”
Minter added with a laugh that the evening probably gave the teachers a new appreciation for what McDonald's employees do.
Following the three-hour McTeacher's shift, McDonald's donated 20 percent of their profits to Highland Elementary School with a check for $538. McDonald's then added an additional $462 to make the fundraising effort an even $1,000.
The Highlands Building Improvement Team will be talking with teachers about the best use of the money to support the school's priorities.
“We haven't decided exactly what we're going to do with it yet,” Olech said.
Along with benefiting the school, the event was also fun for everyone involved.
“We had a good chunk of our staff participate,” Olech said. “It really brought the community together.”
Olech, who teaches first grade at Highland Elementary School in Rifle, was one of a number of teachers who worked at the restaurant from 5-8 p.m. to help raise money for their school.
“It was a lot of fun,” Olech said afterwards. “We signed up for different shifts at the lobby, the front counter and the drive-through. I liked the drive-through the best — I loved handing the food out the window.”
Sporting bright green T-shirts with the words “McTeacher's Night,” given to them by McDonald's, the group of teachers, although with no formal training, served customers with the help of the regular employees.
“We had a lot of our families come in, so they understood if we made a mistake,” Olech said with a laugh. “And we had quite a few students come through.”
It isn't the first time Highland Elementary and McDonald's have teamed up. There wasn't an event last year, but there have been several years prior.
“Over the last four years, we've done this three times with Highland Elementary,” said Klaus Minter, director of operations for McDonald's on the Western Slope, under Paul Nelson, who owns nine franchises. “We want to partnership with the community, whether it's with the school or the chamber of commerce. But we especially like to help the kids. It's good for the schools, it's good for the kids and, frankly, it's good for our business.”
Minter added with a laugh that the evening probably gave the teachers a new appreciation for what McDonald's employees do.
Following the three-hour McTeacher's shift, McDonald's donated 20 percent of their profits to Highland Elementary School with a check for $538. McDonald's then added an additional $462 to make the fundraising effort an even $1,000.
The Highlands Building Improvement Team will be talking with teachers about the best use of the money to support the school's priorities.
“We haven't decided exactly what we're going to do with it yet,” Olech said.
Along with benefiting the school, the event was also fun for everyone involved.
“We had a good chunk of our staff participate,” Olech said. “It really brought the community together.”
