‘Yard sale’ helps supply hundreds of new teachers in Muscogee County School District

They call it a yard sale, but it was conducted in a school, and all the items could be taken for free.

The Muscogee County School District’s second annual Teacher Yard Sale at Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts on Monday allowed MCSD’s approximately 400 new teachers (out of 5,300 employees) the chance to supply and equip their classrooms with items that go beyond the basics provided by the district.

“This is one more means of supporting our teachers and giving them the resources and support they need to be successful,” MCSD superintendent David Lewis said during a news conference before the event. “Ultimately, if they are, our students are as well.”

Shawna Hartley, teacher quality specialist for MCSD’s central region, credits retired teacher Laura Stokes with suggesting the idea, giving retired and veteran teachers a constructive way to discard classroom items they no longer need.

“If we can do anything to come alongside and pour into our new teachers, that is what we’re doing to do,” she said.

Kyra Johnson, teacher quality specialist for MCSD’s east region, added, “We just want to make sure they know that we appreciate what they’re doing. This is sometimes a hard field, and we want to make it as easy as possible for our new teachers that are coming into the district.”

Teachers could take any amount of items on tables in the middle of the room during their 15-minute shopping period, and they could choose one specialty item, such as a table or a chair, on display along the walls.

MCSD communications director Kimberly Wright didn’t allow the media to interview any of the new teachers at the event, but she did let the Ledger-Enquirer interview a teacher who benefited from it last year.

Shaw High School chorus director Rontae Angry, 24, said he spent approximately $300 of his own money last year on school supplies for his classroom and estimated 60 students.

“It’s not cheap whatsoever,” he said.

The items Angry bought included sheet music, folders, worksheets, pencils and tissues.

“That’s why the yard sale was such a great benefit for us,” he said. “I got a lot of great things.”

Those things included a chair, lamp, table, staplers and hole puncher.

A nationwide problem

Teachers across the country face similar problems. More than 90% of teachers spend their money on school supplies and other items for their students, averaging around $500 out of pocket per year, according to the National Education Association.

That’s why Angry appreciates MCSD for providing a creative opportunity to lessen the financial burden.

“I was offered a few positions,” he said, “and I took this position because Muscogee County takes good care of their teachers.”