A week before the fabled first day of school, 109 Fountain Valley School District teachers – one of them in absentia because she went into labor hours before – collected $500 check at the board meeting.
The pennies from heaven arrived courtesy of Assistance League of Huntington Beach. This year, the chapter raised almost $110,000 for its Links to learning program, which provides grants to teachers in the Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Westminster and Ocean View school districts.
As any teacher knows, monetary gifts for the classroom are much appreciated and quickly invested.
Look around. That globe. That hippo-shaped electric pencil sharpener. That stash of tissue boxes at the ready for runny noses. Those inspirational wall posters, “Star Student” certificates, holiday cookies, Dr. Seuss books.
It’s a good bet they were paid for out of a teacher’s wallet.
Randomly selected at the recent event, Fountain Valley teachers – now $500 richer in cash for the classroom – estimated how much they spend annually on their students.
Teri Emerson, Oka Elementary, first grade: “Oh my gosh. I spend between $2,000 and $3,000. I have a lot of lower-income kids. I hate asking the parents to buy supplies, so I end up just buying them myself – paper, pencils, markers. I bought new chairs and a rug. We don’t have air conditioning in my room. It got so hot last year that kids were throwing up from heat exhaustion. So I bought a personal portable air conditioner and Dyson fans. It’s amazing how much I spend.”
Beth Fockler, Fulton Middle School, English, sixth grade: “Well, I’m a bad one to ask. I spend thousands. I buy new novels, consumables for parties and classroom supplies like markers and poster board. I buy materials for our ancient Egypt project. The school has an incentive program where we give kids gift cards. By the end of the year, the gift cards are running low so I just buy them myself.”
Kevin Yamabe, Plavan Elementary, first grade: “Not all that much. I’ve found ways to get money through grants, like this one from the Assistance League. I go to the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). And I’m a big fan of DonorsChoose (a crowdfunding website that allows teachers to post outlines of their classroom needs for funding consideration).”
Julia Hartmann, Fulton Middle School, speech and language pathologist, grades 6-8: “Around $500. I work with cognitively impaired kids. I buy tactile and sensory input manipulatives and iPad apps. I buy rewards for my kids and I take them to lunch.”
Kelly Correa, Gisler Elementary, kindergarten: “I spend too much. Too much! I have a holiday party. I have a Mother’s Day party. I give my students gifts. My classroom has a treasure box with fun items for incentives. I’m always buying ‘treasures.’ It goes on and on. It must add up to at least $1,000. Don’t tell my husband.”
Kim O’Donnell, Cox Elementary, fourth grade: “I couldn’t even put a number on it. Every time I go to the grocery store, every time I go to Target, I think, ‘I need that for my classroom.’ I constantly hand out school supplies to help out my students. It all adds up, to a lot.”
Brandon Plummer, Tamura Elementary, first grade: “I spend hundreds. Where do I start? I buy Leveled Reading books, manipulatives for math and language arts, technology devices and classroom decor.”
Evelyn Lee, Fulton Middle School, grades 6-8, wood shop and robotics: “Easily $500 to $600. My kids make pens out of wood. Whenever I see a nice piece of wood, or any other material my students might like for a project, I buy it. It’s the life of a teacher!”
