In Tough Times, Manchester Teachers Get Resourceful

Each school year, many Manchester Township teachers spend hundreds of dollars of their own money on materials necessary to enrich their students’ learning experiences.

Through the use of an online charity website, DonorsChoose.org, teachers now have an easy and creative way to ask for donations and to receive assistance with extra expenses that are not covered by the district budget.    

Public school teachers are able to “shop online for the specific items that they would like to use in the classroom, then plead their case to the public by writing an essay describing how the students will benefit from the donated materials,” said Robyn Pilcher, a third-grade teacher at Ridgeway Elementary School who has used the nonprofit organization to fund 74 projects.

Individuals and businesses can survey projects on the website and choose which ones they would like to sponsor. Donations can be made in any amount.

Donors are updated on projects and provided pictures of the project in use. Those who give over $100 are also delivered hand-written thank you cards from the teacher and students.

Pilcher has been awarded extra art materials, learning games, books, activity centers and furniture to make the classroom more accessible to the students. In addition, Pilcher has also received new technology such as laptop computers, an ELMO document camera, an LCD projector, digital cameras, iPods and a video camera.

“I like to have a busy, exciting classroom where kids aren't just sitting in their seat all day," said Kerry White, second grade teacher at Ridgeway Elementary. "They need to move and interact with each other. These new materials certainly helps that and keeps them looking forward to being here every day."

Superintendent David Trethaway said he is pleased teachers have found another avenue for help with DonorsChoose.org. 

“Our teachers are always coming up with creative ideas to reach their students, but unfortunately our budget can only be stretched so far," he said. "Fortunately, we have some incredible teachers here who take the initiative to apply to DonorsChoose in order to obtain funding to help make their ideas a reality."

Although some teachers find that utilizing DonorsChoose is somewhat time consuming, “what our students are able to gain is well worth the time and effort,” said Barbara Fusaro, kindergarten teacher at Ridgeway Elementary School.

“It just takes a bit of time, creativity, and definitely some work on the teacher's part” to get a project funded, White said.

Gina Foss, a first-grade teacher from Ridgeway, has also had luck with DonorsChoose. Since last May, she has had 12 projects funded for her classroom.

“They have included math manipulatives, leveled books for my classroom library, a computer cart, a reading bench, an easel for big books, tag readers, a classroom mailbox and many language games,” she said.

Foss added, “I still look around my room and can't help but smile from the generosity of these companies and people that donate to Donor's Choose.”

For more information on the online charity and to see what teachers from Manchester and around the country are asking for in their classrooms, visit www.DonorsChoose.org.