The GMSD Celebration Tour: How It Works, How to Win, and Why It Matters

If you see HR walking down your hallway with donuts, coffee or pizza, don’t panic. You might be about to be celebrated.

This year, Germantown Municipal School District launched the GMSD Celebration Tour, a monthly, in-person recognition experience designed to surprise staff, spotlight great work and say a very real “thank you” to the people who make our schools run.

It is not an email. It is not a certificate in a mailbox. It is a knock on your classroom door, coworkers cheering and a prize from one of our incredible local partners.

And yes, there is a T-shirt.

The idea grew from GMSD’s strong relationships with local businesses. More than 75 Germantown and Memphis-area partners offer discounts, giveaways and special opportunities to district employees. Andy Martin, Coordinated School Health Supervisor, has tirelessly recruited community sponsors and is well known for treating our staff with prizes.

“We wanted to tap into the amazing work that Andy has been doing–to both highlight our people and also the businesses who support them,” said Elissa Stratton, assistant superintendent of human resources. “This felt like the perfect way to bring those things together.”

Each month, different recognition categories are featured, each paired with a local partner:

 

• District Office Staff Spotlight – Eggs Up Grill

 

• Classified Staff Donut Drop – Duck Donuts

 

• Birthday Month Winner – Nothing Bundt Cakes

 

• Nacho Average Blue Chip Teacher – Oh Grate

 

• Dinner to Go Winner – East End Chicago Pizza

 

• Gratitude Gram Winners – Biggby Coffee

 

• Perfect Attendance Winner – Grind City Brewery

How Do You Win?

Each category has its own criteria, but the heart of the program is simple: everyone has a chance.

 

• The Classified Staff Donut Drop is awarded to a classified employee.

 

• The Birthday Month Winner is selected from staff members who have a birthday that month.

 

• The Nacho Average Blue Chip Teacher highlights a Blue Chip teacher or a teacher who is new to GMSD.

 

• The Gratitude Gram Winners include both the staff member who submitted a Gratitude Gram and the colleague they recognized.

 

• The Perfect Attendance Winner is selected from employees who did not miss a single day the previous month.

Names are selected randomly within each category, with intentional rotation across schools and roles to ensure recognition reaches every corner of the district.

“We wanted everyone to have an opportunity,” Stratton said. “Not just teachers. Not just one school. Everyone.”

There is no application process and no nomination form. Employees are eligible simply by working for GMSD and meeting the criteria for each category.

Another intentional piece of the Celebration Tour is the delivery. HR, Coordinated School Health and school administrators show up in person to present the prizes.

“It’s not just an email,” Stratton said. “We go together and make it special.”

The goal is to create a moment, not just a message.

Each winner also receives a GMSD T-shirt that reads, “Behind every great school district are even greater people.”

“They get to wear it proudly,” Stratton said. “It is just another way of saying thank you for being part of GMSD.”

At its core, the Celebration Tour is about culture.

“We hope employees feel valued and appreciated,” Stratton said. “We are grateful they choose to work here, support our students and be part of our schools.”

And yes, it is also about having fun.

Because sometimes appreciation should come with donuts.