Cherisse Hixson is a Collierville local who has a heart for pampering teachers. Cherisse majored in education while in college and says even though she is not in the profession, she has many friends working in the school system. “I’m not in the schools every day but I hear everything that they (teachers) go through from my friends,” says Cherisse. “I just love to go in and love on them and serve them and give back.”

For the last six years Cherisse has made it her mission to give back twice a year to teachers in our area, from Elementary schools to High schools. It wasn’t until recently that she partnered with friends and business owners to put on a show of appreciation for teachers at Houston and Collierville High schools. “This was my first time to ask my friends in the community to partner with me and they rallied! They loved it! We brought in a massage therapist. Kendra Scott at Saddle Creek partnered with me, and Frost bakery in Collierville provided all the sweets. The Rev Boutique gave coffee and giveaways too! And High Point church gave lots of CDs and t-shirts away,” says Cherisse. “I don’t think I had a big enough vision until I thought other people might want to do this. So I just asked them, ‘would you like to partner with me and be a part of this?’ and they were just thrilled! It was a ball! The teachers were like: “when are you coming back?” 

Cherisse remembers her first visit to Collierville High as being very SWEET. “We must have gone through six pots of coffee and I don’t even know how many dozen cupcakes! It was amazing!” says Cherisse. Approximately 70 teachers attended each event at Collierville and Houston High.

Cherisse encourages others to give to those in their circle of influence, regardless if there is a personal connection or not. “Just because you might not have a student in that school, you still have friends that are in that community,” says Cherisse. “I think if all of us would take more time to love on others, even officers and nurses, it makes our community better.”