Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

The generosity of the community continues to show up in Spring Branch ISD in a variety of ways. At the checkout stands in the Spring Branch Office Depot store, each customer is given the option to make a small — or sometimes large — donation to support the students and staff at Pine Shadows Elementary (PSE) this year. 

Every donation made by customers is powered by a partnership between Office Depot and Round It Up America.

“We share as much as we can with our customers about what we are doing in the community for Spring Branch ISD,” said Office Depot store manager Mark Palmer. “We ask every single customer if they would like to make a donation to this year’s partner school in Spring Branch ISD.” 

In the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, more than $3,125 was awarded to Pine Shadows Elementary (PSE) in the form of gift cards to the Spring Branch Office Depot, the highest-earning store in Houston.

“It’s the community, together with Office Depot, giving back to the schools,” said Palmer. He estimates the total donation to PSE will reach about $18,000 by the end of the school year.

Palmer tells Principal Aylin Martinez to use the donated funds in whatever way best serves students and staff. Purchases have included school supplies, office furniture, a small refrigerator, speakers, shredders and other electronic tools not included in the campus budget.

“There have been many impactful purchases, but the kidney tables have made the greatest difference,” Martinez said. “They have allowed us to maximize our small-group instruction spaces, making intervention more effective and intentional for our students.”

In addition to passing along customer donations, Palmer personally donated 67 rolling carts to PSE for teachers.

“Each teacher received a rolling hand basket with wheels that can go upstairs to transport materials,” Palmer said.

Palmer has conducted this community-fueled donation program for Title I schools. Last school year, SBISD's Bendwood was the beneficiary of four quarters of customer donations totaling more than $15,000.

Palmer praised the leaders at both campuses.

“They make sure the students get everything they need first before fulfilling other items the school or staff may need,” Palmer said.

Martinez expressed gratitude for the partnership.

“Their investment in our campus reinforces the importance of community involvement in education and directly benefits both our students and staff,” she said.

Office Depot supports T.O.P.S.

Students in SBISD’s Transitioning Onward Promotes Success, or T.O.P.S., program work in the store several times each week under the guidance of a special education support teacher. This post-graduation, work-based learning program helps students with disabilities, ages 18 to 21, gain employable skills at job sites throughout the community.

“We have two or three students at a time come into the building, and we teach them work and life skills such as organizing, cleaning, helping customers and listening to instructions,” Palmer said.

Palmer and Gloria Elias, a T.O.P.S. teacher at Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS), are also collaborating on a special art project. A well-worn flatbed cart in the store will soon receive a student-designed makeover.

“They have free rein to decorate this cart however they want,” Palmer said. “It’s a fun way of giving back. It gives them a project to work on and be proud of.”

“We have a great relationship with this community partner,” Elias said. “Mr. Palmer is great with our students.”

Last year, Elias invited Palmer to attend the graduation ceremony for students transitioning out of the T.O.P.S. program.

“That was a unique experience getting to meet their parents and tell them how special their kids are, how well they worked in the store and seeing the parents’ faces light up,” Palmer said.

And there’s more

Palmer has also designated wall space in the store to display student artwork and posters promoting upcoming SBISD fine arts performances. When students print posters in the store’s print services department, Palmer offers to display them to help promote events to customers.

Teachers in SBISD also qualify for a discount on purchases made for their classrooms.

Thankful for the generosity

“I love that the community here is so generous,” Palmer said. “This store has donated more to schools than any other store in Houston because of the giving people in this community. We have received donations ranging from $1 to $100 per transaction. Because of that, we are helping the designated school in many ways.”

The campus, student and teacher support provided by Office Depot under Palmer’s leadership earned the store the SBISD 2025 Good Neighbor Award. The honor recognizes community partners who complete three or more strategic activities in support of the district or the Spring Branch Education Foundation during a school year.

“Giving back to the community has been one of the highlights of my job,” Palmer said. “Getting to talk to customers and hearing their stories about attending an SBISD school and the great education they received is just wonderful.”

Thank you to Mark Palmer and Office Depot. We are #SBISDProud of your ongoing support for our students and teachers.

#SBISDProud