"Donors Choose" Program Helps Schools with Supplies

With budgets being cut there’s not a lot of funds left for the little things

Tools

By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Nov 29, 2012 at 5:01 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Nov 29, 2012 at 6:28 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - It takes more than just a good teacher to mold the minds of the future. It also takes materials. With budgets being cut there’s not a lot of funds left for the little things.

“I invest a lot of money into my classroom that I make here as a teacher that I don't mind doing. But it would be nice if I had some extra help,” said Amber Stout.

She’s a kindergarten teacher at Susitna Elementary and looked to the internet for help.

“Ten!” she shouts to her class of 22 students. “Find 15!” The math bingo game she’s playing with the kids was completely paid for through donations from the site donorschoose.org.

“The materials that I ordered were from a catalog. I would love to order from but they're super expensive. For me to be able to put out a project and have people donate and help me out. It's wonderful,” said Stout.

The website allows teachers to post projects and materials to make them happen. There are thousands of projects listed and 39 from Alaskan teachers.

Susan Thorpe’s class in the remote village of Emmonak could use some graphing calculators to help with advanced level math.

“The teachers are limited in our budget of what we're allowed to buy every year. Mostly we have to buy consumables, pencils and things like that. Graphing calculators are not in the budget,” said Thorpe.

Donors are just $69 short of making her wish come true.

Teachers aren’t asking for anything extravagant. In fact some village instructors just want pencils and erasers so their students can do their homework.

While Stout has already gotten the materials she needs to make math more hands-on, she’s not asking for resources to help out her male students.

“Currently in our nation American Indian and Native Alaskans have the highest drop out rate and we need to get them engaged. Getting them excited about school at the Kindergarten level, I'm hoping that will carry through to high school and they'll be more likely to graduate,” said Stout.

She’s counting on the kindness of others to get her students what they need to they’re prepared for whatever the future holds.

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