We asked our summer intern, Jordan McGhee, a rising high school junior, about the importance of supporting educators and students with new classroom materials. Here is what she had to say.
By Jordan McGhee
Summer Intern
Every year, public school educators spend more than $500 out of their own pockets on classroom instructional materials. The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that $591 billion was spent on education supplies in the 2013 school year alone. This is a huge expense and one that teachers shouldn’t have to carry alone. The good news is you can help!
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs are quickly growing in this country. On DonorsChoose.org, a grant resource dedicated to funding teachers’ requests for classroom projects, I found a Washington educator who is trying to raise money to provide iPads for her students. With support from donors like you and me, her students can begin to close the achievement gap in STEM learning while actually using technology instead of just hearing about it. On this website, you can find many more interesting projects like this one from educators across the country.
According to BuildOn.org, an American student drops out of high school every 26 seconds. Perhaps one way you can help change that statistic is by simply helping teachers make the classroom a more engaging place. Children have a high capacity to learn. Often what discourages them is a lack of connection to the subject and an inability to understand everything that is taught. This is a common frustration among students. When we feel more engaged in what we’re learning, we are more likely to be successful in school and strive for higher goals in college and life. All these teachers want to do is prepare their students for the great big world around us.
Starting September 14, the NEA Foundation will partner with DonorsChoose.org for a limited time to offer a “Double Your Impact” match offer. This means that for every dollar we donate to a NEA member’s request for classroom materials of up to $500 on DonorsChoose.org, the NEA Foundation will give one, too.
The best part is you get to choose who you support: a teacher from your hometown, a teacher who teaches your favorite subject, a sixth grade teacher, etc. By donating, you are indirectly helping our future doctors, lawyers, and educators get the education they need and deserve.
