Teacher Support Network
The Teacher Support Network was created to close the gap on the $1.5M teachers spend annually out-of-pocket to provide essential school supplies and classroom learning materials.
Teachers on average spend $750 of their personal funds each school year on classroom supplies and student needs that are uncovered by school and family budgets. Teacher Support Network is our response to this funding shortfall. Every school in the district receives a budget to spend in our online store to make purchases when needed, which are hand-delivered to the school throughout the year. Your gift will help sustain and grow this program.
The online store currently offers:
- Learning tools such as headphones and whiteboards
- Essential school supplies
- Art supplies
- Mental health resources
- Recess & PE equipment
- Snacks
- Personal hygiene items
- Seasonal items such as hats, mittens, snowpants and boots.
“This is the second year Lindbergh Elementary has used its entire Teacher Support Network budget to purchase all the supplies our students need. We ask families to provide only a backpack, water bottle, and change of clothing at the start of the school year. By providing all the other supplies, we are able to remove the stigma that is immediately placed upon children who do not arrive with supplies. Being able to select the specific supplies we need, rather than accepting random donations, goes such a long way in helping us to avoid storage challenges and waste. We are so grateful to the Madison Public Schools Foundation for establishing its Teacher Support Network which goes such a long way in helping us to meet the needs of our students and teachers.”
– Andrea Richichi, Principal, Lindbergh Elementary School
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The Teacher Support Network took a hands-on approach to meeting district needs in the 2020-21 school year. We raised money that was used to purchase high-need items, that were then assembled into a variety of student kits.
1,180 art kits were distributed to students.
With the help of hundreds of volunteers, we created 2,500 virtual learning kits in fall 2020.
1,030 Student Reengagement Kits were created for students who remained in virtual learning when schools welcomed students back in late Spring 2021.
100 educator-created wellness kits were given to students enrolled in MMSD’s Intensive Intervention Program.