Marin Woman Surprises 100 Teachers With $1 Million Gift: Report

MARIN COUNTY, CA — About 100 Marin County teachers received an unexpected $1 million gift Thursday from a longtime local resident who learned they were among the lowest-paid teachers in the county, according to a report by KRON4.

Maja Kristin donated the money directly to teachers in the Ross Valley School District, with each receiving a check for a little more than $9,100, according to KRON4.

Teachers had gathered without knowing what was coming and were handed envelopes by their principals before Kristin revealed the surprise.

“We as citizens we can write direct checks,” Kristin told the group, according to KRON4.

Kristin decided to make the donation after learning that the district ranked in the bottom four percent statewide for funding last year and its teachers were the lowest paid in Marin County, KRON4 reported.

“It’s life changing, I mean, I couldn’t be more grateful,” said Sydney Dean, a teacher in the district.

For Anna Schnell, another teacher, the money meant being able to provide more opportunities for her three children.

“I have three kids, and there’s lots of activities that they want to do that we can’t always afford to pay for because of my salary,” Schnell told KRON4.

Despite the wealth of the surrounding community, the school district received relatively little funding because of the area's property tax structure, said Tyler Graff, Ross Valley School District superintendent.

Read the full story at KRON4.