From Deseret News archives:
Web of wishes: Service helps teachers get supplies for classrooms
DonorsChoose.org, touted in a public unveiling last week, is available to Utah teachers to post online their needs, wants and wishes. Donors can make them come true.
It's kind of like a match-making service of sorts. As such, some participating teachers seek to stand out — some by posting pictures; others, a snappy poem. And several go for the catchy headline, like "Calculators + Problem Solving = Fun With Math" and "Tickle My Classroom with Elmo!"
Others are no frills: "We Need To Learn to Read So We Can Succeed."
One teacher, Mr. T, includes a history lesson with his pitch "Underfunded History Dept. Seeks Document Camera":
"Our school is in Utah, which, unfortunately, spends less money per student than ANY other state," Mr. T writes. "Our materials and resources suffer greatly because of lack of funding. Because of the lack of spending on our public schools in Utah, we face a great need for support from generous people who care about education."
The program has been spreading by word of mouth.
Lincoln Elementary fifth-grade teacher Julianne Paul heard about it on an online postcard exchange with other teachers a few years back, when a California teacher talked about how it had helped her classroom. When the program opened up to teachers nationwide last September, Paul, whose school is in inner-city Salt Lake City, immediately signed up.
"The thing about our school is it's very low income, so things another school might have their PTA buy for them ... we don't have as many options," Paul said. "This gave us another option."
Utah teachers for years have spent their own money on classroom supplies. And for years, the Legislature has reimbursed them some. Next school year, teachers, mostly new ones, will divvy up $10 million, receiving about $300 apiece for supplies. The money is nice, but doesn't come near to covering the bill, which some teachers have said exceeds $1,000 out of pocket.
DonorsChoose can fill in the gap. Since September, Paul has had three wishes granted: A camera for her projector, headphones with microphones and recording device to help students with reading fluency, and several sets of books. In all, about $700 worth of equipment.
Paul says several other teachers at Lincoln have received money through DonorsChoose.org.
Last week, the site listed 54 teacher requests from areas including North Summit, Salt Lake City, Weber, Davis, Jordan and Wasatch school districts. Some requests don't identify the school; others do.
