DELRAY BEACH — The Delray Chamber's Education Foundation awarded $21,750 to 21 area schools during the chamber's annual new teacher/education appreciation breakfast Friday.

About 230 chamber members and educators attended the event, sponsored by the Office Depot Foundation, with Bank of America and Crossroads Club.

Recipients included: Atlantic Community High School; Achievement Centers for Children & Families-Family Resource Center; Banyan Creek Elementary School; Bar & Ferg's Academy; Carver Middle School; Delray Full Service Center; Daughter of Zion Junior Academy; Delray Youth Vocational Charter School.

Also, Gulf Stream School; the Harid Conservatory; Morikami Park Elementary; Orchard View Elementary; Pine Grove Elementary; Plumosa Elementary; S.D. Spady Elementary; Toussaint L'Ouverture; St. Joseph's Episcopal School; St. Vincent Ferrer; Trinity Lutheran School; Unity School; and Village Academy.

Pamela Stewart, deputy chancellor for educator quality at the state Department of Education, emphasized the importance of teachers during the event.

"Teaching is a uniqure profession," Stewart said. "You get to start all over again every year. It's really the basis for all other professions.

"The influence you have on students is both frightening and exciting at the same time. Even if you don't remember how you treated your students, they will remember."