Jim implements an employee of the month program to increase morale. Meanwhile, Michael faces a promise he made to a class of third graders ten years ago.
While cleaning out Michael’s inbox (and being disrespected by him more than usual), Erin stumbles across an email regarding Michael’s foundation Scott’s Tots, in which he promised college tuition to a class of third graders ten years earlier. Pam pushes Erin to accompany Michael to admit to the class that he cannot pay for their tuition.
“I’ve made some empty promises in my life…but hands down, that was the most generous.”
Through Andy, Dwight proposes an employee of the month program to Jim. Little does Jim know that he is implementing an elaborate scheme to get himself fired. Dwight has rigged the program to choose the person with the highest scores in categories he himself has designed. He also collects cash from the entire office for a cash prize.
When Jim announces the employee of the month–himself–the office is accuses him of cheating them out of cash and the rest of the prize package. They decide to instead give the title to the next highest score…which happens to be Pam. At the same time, a cake is delivered with Jim’s photo on it. Meanwhile, Dwight impersonates several employees and leaves David Wallace complaints about Jim.
Erin and Michael attend an assembly at a local high school (in the Michael Scott Reading Room) and enter to an applauding group of students. After the class celebrates him with a few tearful speeches, Michael is forced to tell them that he cannot pay their tuition. Naturally, they are outraged. He does offer them laptop computer batteries for online classes, however.
David Wallace calls Jim to castigate him for the trouble at the branch. Dwight later goes in to retrieve his pen recorder and listens in on David yelling at Jim for his failed idea…and he also hears David apologize and confirm dinner plans with Jim for that weekend.
As they leave the school, one student approaches Michael and asks him for help with at least his own tuition. Michael agrees and writes him four checks for $1,000 each. To cheer up Michael, Erin tells him that she found out that 90% of Scott’s Tots were set to graduate, higher than the rest of the seniors. Michael finally tells her that she’s doing a great job.
At the end of the day, Ryan tells Dwight that he knows about his failed plan, and forms an alliance with him to take down Jim…
