The Havasu Youth Advisory Council (HYAC) is proud to announce the launch of a community sponsored online service for parents, supporters, PTOs and PTAs to support our teachers: ProjectWeOutcare.com  

After losing 52 teachers from the school district in the 2016-2017 school year, HYAC’s eight high school students Carla Betancourt, Tatum Bracamonte, Cheyenne Halfacre-Buie, Hayden Lintz, Garrett McNerney, Stephanie Nelson, Jersey Orias, and Ella Wofford took on a challenge to be change agents in Lake Havasu City to improve teacher retention through a project they call “Project: We OutCare!”

According to Mayor Mark Nexsen, “Quality teacher retention was one of the major issues identified by community leaders at the August 2015 Town Hall for the America’s Best Communities prize competition discussion, and is also one of the goals for Vision 20/20-Education and Talent Pillar. We are very proud of these young leaders for going above and beyond to connect the community with the teachers to help overcome demographic starvation in Lake Havasu City.”

The average teacher spends $500 a year out of pocket to fulfill their classroom needs. The site is designed to help teachers acquire those classroom needs straight from the homes or offices of their community supporters instead of their own pockets. The website simply takes the old-fashioned printed wish list, to an online registry using web, email, and social media tools. A few simple clicks on the site, and a package is sent directly to the classroom. 

The website includes a personal profile of each registered teacher and their needs are linked to Amazon online. Registration and maintenance of the site is no cost to the teachers and currently there are 38 Lake Havasu City teachers enrolled. If you know of a teacher that is not enrolled, please encourage them to register today-Because teachers shouldn’t have to spend their own money on school supplies!

HYAC hopes “Project: We OutCare!” will grow along with the community, and outlive the youth council that created it. “We are thankful for the citizens of Lake Havasu City, and the donors and sponsors for out caring us, but most importantly, we are thankful for our teachers for choosing to make  Lake Havasu City their hometown,” said HYAC Senior member Carla Betancourt.

For more information, visit a wish list or register, please visit the website ProjectWeOutcare.com, contact the Mayor’s office at 928-453-4152 or email lhcyouthadvisorycouncil@gmail.com