SOAR Charter Academy Flies in to Take Over McDonald's for McTeacher's Night

On Oct. 20 the teachers, staff, and students of SOAR Charter Academy in San Bernardino took over the McDonald’s on 40th Street for the annual McTeacher’s Night. From 5 to 8 p.m., teachers and staff from SOAR took orders, made food, and cleaned tables. Students of SOAR were welcome to attend and watch their teachers in McDonald’s uniform working behind the counter. Not many children missed out, considering the restaurant was packed for the entire three hours. Even community members who happened to be eating dinner at the same time were able to witness the teachers’ hard at work. SOAR is a public charter school teaching kindergarteners to eighth grade. The co-founders of SOAR work there and are either teachers or administrators now. Some of the co-founders were able to attend McTeacher’s Night, as well. Co-founder and Director of Human Resources and Public Relations at SOAR Charter Academy Tammi Fort planned the event and was on-hand coordinating the whole thing. Another co-founder, Renee Nunez, was in charge of keeping the lines in order and the cash register. Co-founder Trisha Lancaster was responsible for keeping the dining room clean, picking up trash, cleaning tables, and more. Ronald McDonald himself attended to spend time with attending kids. He also performed his very own magic show at 5:45 p.m. in the Play Place for the children. The whole restaurant was decorated with ribbon, balloons, and confetti. Ronald McDonald didn’t only perform his magic show, he was there the whole night, taking pictures with the children. Every October, McDonald’s holds “McTeacher’s Night” in support of local schools. Fifteen percent of all sales between 5 to 8 p.m. that night went directly to SOAR Charter Academy. “The money goes toward materials, curriculum, after-school programs, field trips, and anything that our kids need,” Fort said. Every customer who spent $15 or more automatically got put into a raffle and every 15 minutes, a winner was presented with a bucket full of goodies and happy meal toys. Customers who spent $8 or more received a free face painting. Two face painters were set up at a table in the back of the restaurant. Each face painting was $6 with the exception of the free paintings included with the $8 or more purchases. Fort explained how each teacher and staff member was assigned duties at McDonald’s that night. “At the last staff meeting, I told them about McTeacher’s Night this year and whoever is interested can sign up… we have to have a minimum of 10,” she explained. “Then those 10 kind of decide on who is going to be doing what.” Not only were teachers on the front lines behind the counter, there were some staff members working in the back, as well. “They’re back in the kitchen too. There’s someone on fries, on the register, someone doing the ice cream… they’re doing it all. We have shadows back there,” she said chuckling. McDonald’s was full of students, parents, staff, and regular customers, mainly for the entertainment of seeing their teachers and staff usually seen on campus, but now with McDonald’s shirts on and assembling orders for customers. McDonald’s employees were also working and helping the SOAR staff members if needed.