“I was trying to just think of something that we could do for our employees,” said Bryan Hurst, assistant superintendent for Quitman Independent School District. “On (our) incentive list, it’s all things that we try to give them monetarily; but I was like, ‘What if we did something different?’”

So, the school did. After talking with campus principals in June, Superintendent Chris Mason says that administrators from the school decided to pursue an additional way to “take care of our people” by partnering with a local gym. That’s when Hurst approached husband and wife duo Brooks and Brooke Rogers, who own Rock Solid Fitness in Quitman.

“This wellness partnership came about, and we were able to make it be a win-win situation for both parties,” said Brooke Rogers. “It’s just a way for us to give back to the community and help give our teachers and employees of the district an outlet to stay healthy, and maybe even release some stress…you can’t put a price on your health.”

Mason said that the school has purchased a 10-month membership for every employee of the school; that’s teachers as well as custodians, food service employees, administrators and more. According to Rogers, at least 80 QISD employees have already taken advantage of the new partnership since its inauguration on Sept. 1. 

“I think almost every one of our high school food service ladies go right after they get off, and they all go and work out together,” said Mason. “So that’s just another added benefit, is the camaraderie and the teamwork…everyone I’ve talked to has really loved it and been very thankful (for) it.”

Rogers says that another benefit of the partnership is that, as a gym that’s open 24/7, Rock Solid Fitness is able to provide around-the-clock opportunities for teachers and other employees who might not have time to work out elsewhere.

“For those who say (an) eight to five (gym) doesn’t fit their schedule, they can come in before work, which quite a few of them do; and then, even after work, (we’re open),” said Rogers.

Rodgers and Hurst also brought up the idea of other local businesses partnering with the school for even more “win-win” opportunities.

“Hopefully, this will open opportunities up for other businesses in the community to work with the district as well and realize that there’s other ways to give back without having to maybe write a check,” said Rogers. “We’re thankful the district reached out, and we just hope that other businesses will look at doing the same and giving back that way.”

In the end, it’s all about “Team Quitman,” said Hurst, Mason and Rodgers. 

“We have a motto here of, ‘Team Quitman,’” said Hurst. “Whenever we passed our bond, that mantra just kind of spilled over into our bond project, and now it’s spilling over into our community, and we would just like to keep on encouraging the mantra of ‘Team Quitman.’”

“Ultimately, we know healthy teachers are productive teachers, and productive teachers take care of students,” said Mason. “(Our employees are) very important to us, and we know it’s not really monetary things, but how they feel, and how they feel like they’re getting taken care of, that matters.”