Interesting promotion and Twitter thread last night from Sioux Falls.

The team hosted a playful fun money grab for ten local teachers.  During intermission they had the chance to grab $5000 in cash to use in their classrooms.

So far, so good….right?

At the Premier Center for the Stampede game where after the first period local teacher will participate in the first-ever Dash For Cash. $5,000 is up for grabs for teachers to use in their classrooms. pic.twitter.com/8dqcI7QTRe

— Annie Todd (@AnnieTodd96) December 12, 2021

The optics of this got a little sideways for people who thought this made teachers look like they were groveling for classroom dollars.  The back and forth on Twitter highlighted how people enter with their own lens to view things….some thought this was good clean fun (including the teachers taking part).

Here they go! pic.twitter.com/G0MH3Y1VXU

— Annie Todd (@AnnieTodd96) December 12, 2021

Check the comments if you want to dig in.

The lesson is probably to consider the optics of all your promotions and the position you put people in.  I’m not sure I would have caught this as an issue…but there are a lot of perspectives that might raise awareness to a point of view you didn’t see.

Side note:  I checked with a group of teacher friends who all said “I’m IN!”

Here is an update (12/14/21): (via HuffPost)

The team and sponsor have issued an apology for the optics.

“Although our intent was to provide a positive and fun experience for teachers, we can see how it appears to be degrading and insulting towards the participating teachers and the teaching profession as a whole,” the apology stated.

In their apology, the Sioux Falls Stampede along with CU Mortgage Direct said they would be providing an additional $15,500 to area teachers.