Hillcrest Teacher Builds Desks For Students Who Don't Have Any

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, IL — When Hillcrest High School woodshop teacher, Marty Coyle, began remote instruction this school year, he noticed many students sitting on their beds, couches, or even the floor, during classes. It was during this time that Coyle realized that many of his students don't have a desk to work at. With a "bleeding heart," Coyle decided to build desks with leftover woodshop material from the previous school year, for his students who do not have one.

Coyle has been teaching at Hillcrest for three years. He took to Facebook to share the desks he created, writing: "Turns out lots of students do not have desks to work at during E-Learning.....So I figured I might as well build some."

The woodshop teacher said he didn't expect to get as much attention for the post, but he was later being contacted by multiple families and students from Hillcrest, along with schools in the surrounding areas, for desk inquires.

"Everyone is going through it. A lot of my friends are teachers and we all have the same thought on our minds...we need kids to feel safe and know we are here for them," Coyle said. "When we initially switched to remote learning last school year, I kept thinking 'what are some ways can I make my community better, and help the kids out.'"

Coyle said he built and delivered a total of 12 desks to students with lumber that came late in the school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he never made a desk before but was so determined to do so that he watched multiple tutorials to get it right.

"Desks are sold out everywhere and many of my students come from schools and neighborhoods where there's not much equity," he said. " We know how hard it is during this time for the students to learn properly... also, nobody is an all-star e-learning teacher as well."

Coyle said he is getting an overwhelming request for desks but is unable to fill every request.

"I wish I could build desks for everyone asking, but there are not enough materials to do so, and I am only one person," he said. "I hope this inspires other teachers to want to help their students the same."