Their school supply wishes are being granted, as many Delaware teachers start year short
Meagan Gonzalez had her room all set.
Blocks of colorful paper filled her bulletin boards, ready to brandish new kindergarteners’ work in just a week. The bright blues, greens and reds carried across the space to small cubbies, posted class values and a plush rug taking the front.
She pulled it off again. Her classroom was ready for the next school year, having secured the basics after circulating a donation project among family and friends all summer. The 10-year kindergarten teacher is used to the challenge. Looking at her room in late August, she knew many educators have to dip into their own money to prepare.
She couldn’t believe what her school had in the works this year.
Barclays partnered with EastSide Charter School ahead of the 2023-24 academic year to create an “Adopt a Classroom” program, allowing individuals or teams within the bank’s ranks to fulfill educator wish lists throughout the school. The company's Black Professionals Resource Group led the effort, asking teachers to curate lists capped around $300.
“That's literally a teacher's dream,” Gonzalez said, finally letting her mind wander to items she couldn’t prioritize. “I don't know if a lot of people realize that teachers spend a lot of their own money paying for a lot of the supplies. And it can be basic things like pencils, erasers, scissors, glue, crayons, things like that.”
More than 90% of teachers spend their own money on supplies, the National Education Association estimates. Teachers spend $459 on classroom supplies each year on average, according to the Economic Policy Institute just before the pandemic. In Delaware, the average was more like $507 each year.
By Sept. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Barclays hopes to have all wishes granted. And educators in the Wilmington charter school hope other organizations take notice.
“It would be amazing if other companies or places could kind of jump in on these sorts of initiatives. Not honestly just for the teachers, but ultimately just for our kids,” Gonzalez said. “That's our job and why we're here.”
'There is not a one-stop-shop'
Backpacks were her first thought. Maybe another drive for hoodies and hygiene products.
Peri Hutt, vice president and senior paralegal with Barclays, was looking for ways to support local students. Turning to Wilmington’s EastSide Charter felt natural. The company’s relationship with EastSide already goes back decades, from longstanding mentorship programs to $1 million in donations to support a coming STEM Hub. The 16-year Barclays employee's own daughter even attended in middle school.
She and her team set up a meeting with Aaron Bass, the school's CEO.
“And we said, ‘Well, hold on,’” Bass recalled.
Students have preferences. Supplies or clothing can go wasted, he cautioned. Every classroom is different.
“I was thinking about this other idea,” Hutt remembered from that meeting. “It was adopt-a-classroom, where we will be supporting the teachers, which of course, supports the students.”
EastSide was all for it. They hit the ground running.
“Our teachers need a variety of different things. There is not a one-stop shop. Our PE teacher needs different things. Our science teachers need different things than our math teachers. So they go off and spend their own money," Bass said.
He wishes they'd never have to.
Teachers were given days to create lists. Barclay employees were soon able to take on classrooms as individuals or internal teams, mirroring holiday gift programs many knew well.
Leaders have yet to decide what shape delivery will take come mid-September, but confidence remains that each list will be met.
Gonzalez hopes to revamp her offerings for “choice time,” looking to get new toys, STEM activities and more to divert her kindergarteners after a long day of learning. The level of community involvement is unlike anything she saw when teaching in New York City early in her career.
"I feel like it was just naturally expected that like parents would buy all these things. And that's not always the case at our school," she said. "It's like, I'm all of my kids' mom, and I'm just trying to provide them with all of these things just to make sure that they're successful."
Have a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for the USA TODAY Network's Northeast Region and Delaware Online, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Barclays to fill EastSide Charter teachers' school supply wish lists
