Publisher’s Points to Ponder: Supporting Teachers

Are you an advocate for educators? I am for many reasons; among these is the influence education had on my life throughout the years. I grew up watching many members of my family teach and invest their resources into education to make the world a little better for their students. Most of us would agree that teachers need our support to take learning beyond the classroom. There are many ways we can amp up our advocacy efforts, and investing our resources may be more accessible than ever.  

One way to support teachers is to start with the teachers who are responsible for those closest to you, such as your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or cousin. Visit the school frequently to find out what the teacher needs to create the best learning environment for his or her students. When I taught in the primary and secondary sectors, I treasured spending time with parents who were actively involved. It is not always about supporting teachers financially; emotional support is also helpful.  

Another way to support teachers is through a website called DonorsChoose.org . While assisting many of my clients with searching for startup funding on crowdfunding websites such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe, it made me wonder if there were similar sites for teachers to raise money for various classroom projects and educational needs. Eventually, I came across DonorsChoose.org. Teachers set up accounts, list their needs, and await donations from a community of people who want to help students succeed. With more than 1.5 million projects funded thus far, DonorsChoose.org is an excellent starting point. I’ve discovered schools from our local community. Some of the teachers affiliated with Olney ISD are part of the site, although there are no current projects. I encourage Olney ISD teachers to sign up at www.donorschoose.org/teachers.They will match donations contributed to the initial project.  

Let’s begin and continue to rally around our teachers by providing both monetary and emotional support. Your support to teachers can extend the impact they have on the lives of our future leaders. Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”