Want to Send Someone Special To Disney World

[whoopsiedoodle]

THis sounds like something I would do! LOVE the idea and anyone that has ever helped my DD - heck I would send them ANYWHERE as well!!!! I think I would speak to her privately about it and tell her what you want to dnce your son has "graduated" from the program she becomes a family friend and you can buy a family friend whatever you want, right? Completely worth it to do this for someone that has meant that much to your family.

This is what I was thinking as well! Once she is no longer your sons teacher you can still keep her involved in your family as a friend. Invite her to BBQs or whatever and then perhaps for Christmas send her on the trip or give her the gift cards, whatever you choose. I completely understand the things that some therapist do that are over the call of duty and it sounds like she is pretty amazing. Speak with her and see what you can work out.

 

[RitaE]

I would suggest that most schools allow parents to make a donation to the school in honor of a teacher or employee. You could buy some needed books or therapy supplies and dedicate your gift in honor of her service.

 

[PrincessNevaeh's Mom]

WOW! What you're doing is amazing! Since she has become a good friend, talk to her in private. That way you will know what kind of Disney vacation she wants for her family. And go from there. You have brought tears to my eyes just thinking of your generous gift! Hope everything goes great!

 

[cinderellamom123]

Wow so glad I came here first. First off, she's a school employed speech therapist but why wouldn't or couldn't she accept such a gift? Also I would love to do a package with food tickets hotel and the works but I don't know her style tastes where she and her family would want to stay if they'd want to fly or drive etc. a Disney gift card is a great idea but that could go for more than just a vacation if you know what I mean. She could mistake that and just go to the Disney store and buy whatever she's never been to Disney and she said for her and her husbands 10th wedding anniversary next August shed love to go but didn't know if she could afford it.

Yes, teachers in our district cannot accept a gift with a value of more than $50

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Sorry, but I still feel that this gift would be way out of line, even if she no longer is your son's speech therapist. It is simply not an appropriate gift for a professional and I'm betting that it will be embarrassing for her if you offer her this. Most professionals adhere to a code of ethics for their profession which would not let them accept such a gift from a patient.

She just did her job. A thank you and a small token would be more than enough.

 

[Jex]

Call her boss and see what the policy is.
Or give her husband a gift.

 

[RitaE]

Let me just put it this way to the OP.

You give this woman a vacation --- say $1500 or whatever.

So then your son enrolls at the school which employs 3 Speech Therapists and four 1st Grade Teachers. News of your gift for her "wonderful service" gets out and they all decide ... Hey, I want that kid in my class because I could use a vacation too.

So the 1st grade teacher gets him and the Speech Therapist works an IEP where she is supposed to be giving him 60 minutes of therapy a week. The teacher decides to spend an extra 30 minutes a day working just with your kid on his reading and lets all the other kids do "seat work" while your kid gets Individual tutoring. The Speech Therapist kind of fudges a little and takes 10 minutes of therapy time from a couple of other kids and devotes that to your son.

Oh hey, they are both doing such great things for your kid, right? Maybe they'll get vacations too?

Meanwhile, your son's classmates Suzy, Joe, and Johnny start going home with the stories of how Miss XXXX keeps sticking them at their desks coloring while your kid gets special attention. The other Speech Therapists start noticing that Therapist YYY seems to be spending more time with your son than what the schedule says should be happening. Parents start calling the school wanting explanations and rumors among the staff of Parent bribery start building and the next thing you know the Principal has a HUGE mess and jobs are at risk.

Even if all that doesn't happen, just the fact that the gift was made is going to pass a cloud over anything a teacher or staff member does for your child? "Is he getting that grade/attention/extra help/award because he deserves it or is it because his parents have a reputation of giving out big bucks?

Even if you have the best of intentions in mind and mean this only as a Thank-you, can you possibly see now why extravagant thank-you gifts, whether you give them outright or try to circumvent the policy, are a bad idea?

 

[Jex]

Sounds like a lot of jealously in here.

 

[peanutsmommy10]

Chances are unfortunately she will never be his teacher again. I hear what all of you are saying but she really deserves something special. Yes she did her job but she also gave my son so much more and really bent over backwards to help him. I feel she deserves to be recognized for that which is why I want to recognized. I dont want a huge to do. Just hand her something simple and be done.

 

[JB2K]

Sounds like a lot of jealously in here.

I don't believe so -- in fact, I am guessing 99% of those posting here agree with OP and are pulling for this speech therapist's continued success. If something unethical, or possibly illegal happens as the result of an extravagant gift trip to WDW, that puts a huge stain on said therapist's career.

Besides, I thought this was the "Budget Board" -- just thinking about a gift which, in all honesty, costs as much as a good, used car (there's nothing "budget" about any last-minute trip to WDW), gives many of us reason to pause...

 

[elfbo]

I would consider a donation to the school in that teacher's name. That keeps her from getting in trouble, and gives warm fuzzies all around. Plus it would likely help the teacher's reputation in the school district, that she had such an impact on her student's parents that they made a good donation in thanks.

My mom works at the school, and they arent allowed to accept expensive gifts, and even if you wait till the son is not her student anymore, if there was ever an investigation, having a large gift to her soon afterwards would not look good at all.

 

[sissy_ib]

Chances are unfortunately she will never be his teacher again. I hear what all of you are saying but she really deserves something special. Yes she did her job but she also gave my son so much more and really bent over backwards to help him. I feel she deserves to be recognized for that which is why I want to recognized. I dont want a huge to do. Just hand her something simple and be done.

A trip to Disney World is not something simple!! That is not something you can just hand to someone and walk away. Write a letter to her supervisor letting them know what a wonderful job she has done if you want her to be recognized. You cant just send everyone who does a good dead on a vacation.

 

[crisi]

I don't believe so -- in fact, I am guessing 99% of those posting here agree with OP and are pulling for this speech therapist's continued success. If something unethical, or possibly illegal happens as the result of an extravagant gift trip to WDW, that puts a huge stain on said therapist's career.

Besides, I thought this was the "Budget Board" -- just thinking about a gift which, in all honesty, costs as much as a good, used car (there's nothing "budget" about any last-minute trip to WDW), gives many of us reason to pause...

Frankly, she could get fired if she accepts it if its against policy/ If it goes to her husband, but its discovered where it comes from, she could get fired. It is very generous, but I'm sure the OP does not want to put the therapist in a spot where she is unemployed. Doesn't matter if she'll never be his teacher again, if its against policy to accept significant gifts for doing your job.

A few years ago my husband was forced to fire someone under similar circumstances. He felt awful. The employee felt awful. The employee was young and had never read through the ethics policy. And there it was in black and white. My husband was given no choice by the corporate management.

I know a woman who won a diamond ring at a conference - and couldn't keep it.

By the way, several years ago I gave an anonymous donation to our elementary school of a few thousand dollars, and you know what, everyone knows it was me who did it. Don't expect this not to slip out, and if one of the other teachers complains, and it is against policy, there will have to be an ethics investigation.

 

[sk!mom]

Wow! I'm a teacher and I'll chime in that this is just way too much. I would Never even consider accepting such an extravagant gift. Honestly, I can't imagine why you would think such a large gift was appropriate. What in the world did she do that was that far above "just doing her job?" My district doesn't have a written policy regarding gifts but I've been uncomfortable the few times that a parent has gone over around $25.

This is just a really bad idea. Very generous of you but a bad idea.

 

[Lizzzys]

Sounds like a lot of jealously in here.

That's what I was thinking too. wow.

 

[clm10308]

I think it is really sweet of you do want to do something so nice for her, but as a former public school employee she is probably not allowed to accept such a generous gift.

I am guessing that what you really want to do is to let her know just how much she has meant to you and your son. In all honesty, a well written letter from you and a $50 gift card or a momento that your son has helped make would probably mean the world to her.

 

[Lizzzys]

Maybe the OP is in a position to be able to do something like this and it is the equivalent of a $25 gift card to you or I. It always makes me feel 100 X better giving than receiving...... some people are like that. I would love someday to win the lottery so that I could "gift" people just like that. People who would not be able to do things otherwise.

I say do it. Do it privately and in a way that your name is not attached to it whatsoever. There is absolutely no way they would be able to prove you had a hand in any of it. Disney Gift Cards are perfect. How would anyone know if you bought and used them yourself or gifted them? Tell her to say absolutely nothing to anyone.

Sometimes some rules don't make sense and should allow for lieniency. If a teacher or anyone is more deserving than others because they have either gone above or beyond, or if they just have had a rough go of it.... and you feel like gifting them, then you should be able to. Period.

Good on ya, OP. You must have some fantastic karma with a personality like yours.

Liz

Wow! I'm a teacher and I'll chime in that this is just way too much. I would Never even consider accepting such an extravagant gift. Honestly, I can't imagine why you would think such a large gift was appropriate. What in the world did she do that was that far above "just doing her job?" My district doesn't have a written policy regarding gifts but I've been uncomfortable the few times that a parent has gone over around $25.

This is just a really bad idea. Very generous of you but a bad idea.

 

[TDC Nala]

First off, she's a school employed speech therapist but why wouldn't or couldn't she accept such a gift?

Public employees are often limited in the amount of monetary gifts they can accept from a "customer" or client. If she is employed by a public school system and her work for you is through that system it's a possibility.

Not weighing in here on whether the OP's gift is too extravagant, just that you should check with her before giving her this kind of a gift if she is a public employee. I do understand you'd probably prefer to surprise her. But it might be better to spend the money AFTER you know she can accept the gift.

I'd also go for the gift card, what if you bought her the tickets and she still couldn't afford the rest of the trip? If you want to give her a full trip, and you want to make sure that what she does is go on a trip and not buy out the Disney store, find out when she can go and just give her a full trip. If she can accept it.

 

[disykat]

I'm with the "extremely inappropriate" group. Even if it doesn't get her fired, it could negatively impact her with her peers. I can't imagine anyone accepting such a gift. It would put her in a horribly awkward position.

 

[irishsharon]

This is what I was thinking as well! Once she is no longer your sons teacher you can still keep her involved in your family as a friend. Invite her to BBQs or whatever and then perhaps for Christmas send her on the trip or give her the gift cards, whatever you choose. I completely understand the things that some therapist do that are over the call of duty and it sounds like she is pretty amazing. Speak with her and see what you can work out.

My ds therapist was amazing and if I could have I would have loved to show her in a BIG way what she meant to usI agree that maybe should give the gift as friends so she can accept your wonderful gift