Our teachers. Our heroes.
Our Teacher Support Network was built with one thing in mind: Assisting MMSD teachers with the cost of equipment, resources and supplies their students need but that fall outside traditional school budgets.
In the 2022-23 school year, Teacher Support Network provided $350,000 in support to all 52 MMSD schools and 3 student programs.
Teacher Support Network
Eliminating $1.4 million in out-of-pocket spending for teachers.
Each year, there are students whose family cannot provide all that is needed for kids to feel a sense of belonging at school. And it is teachers who see it daily in their classrooms. And often, it is teachers using personal funds to help meet these needs.
Teacher Support Network eases this collective $1.4 million dollar spend. From pencils and crayons to winter coats, this initiative gives teachers the freedom to use Foundation funds on what their students need most, when they need it.
We’re working to ensure every student has access to essentials so they can thrive in the classroom.
Making an Impact
Teacher Support Network: Results from the 2022-23 School Year
52
MMSD schools/ programs supported by Teacher Support Network
$350K
In material resources delivered to our public schools
126K
Individual items distributed to teachers & students
“Lindbergh greatly appreciates the thoughtful items available from the Teacher Support Network as well as having a choice in deciding which items are most needed. As a school with approximately 75% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, our community deeply values supporting families by providing all items needed for school at school.”
Andrea Richichi, Principal of Lindbergh Elementary School
Success Stories
A Direct Impact on Students’ Daily Lives
Success Story
Play Every Day Campaign Brings New Life to P.E. and Recess
Spurred by a generous donation from Wesley Matthews, a Memorial alum and current NBA star, the Play Every Day initiative worked to provide much-needed physical education and recess equipment for Madison’s public schools. Part of the Teacher Support Network, the initiative was built to encourage students to get active, understanding the significant impact it has on their health and wellness.
Success Story
Winter-coat wonderland.
In late 2021, as families continued to navigate the pandemic, a $20,000 gift allowed us to purchase more than 1,900 winter outerwear items for students in need. From hats and boots to mittens, snow pants and coats, teachers were able to use our online store to order items for students who would otherwise go without. We have continued each year since, growing our spend to $50,000 in 2024 to provide much-needed winter gear to our students.
Success Story
All 5K students received books to build reading skills.
Thanks to a gift given in honor of Karen C. Ragatz, at the start of the 2022-23 school year we again distributed 16,000 books to all 5K students, helping them improve their literacy at a young age. Karen, a longtime ESL educator at Thoreau Elementary School was committed to helping students strengthen their reading skills.
Sponsors Making a Big Impact
Because of the support of our sponsors and community members, we have been able to scale the Teacher Support Network program from an idea to 3-school pilot, to a district-wide implemented program in three years. We are thankful for this support and opportunity to expand the offerings available to our schools.
Karen C. Ragatz Teacher Support Endowment Fund
Pat Schiro