To some, $200 may not seem like much. But to 70 first-year teachers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it goes a long way.
The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation surprised the teachers with an announcement about the grants Monday.
Every year since 2011, the foundation gives out First Time Teacher Grants. The foundation provides $100 for incoming teachers, and the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation matches $100. The full $200 award is given to each first-year teacher in the Sioux Falls Public School system.
This comes as teachers face mounting school supply costs. In fact, a recent study found the average teacher spends more than $600 out of their own pocket on classroom supplies.
Elizabeth Antonio is a first-year RISE Special Education teacher at Roosevelt High School. She said there’s a need for grants like this one.
“I had no idea that we were getting a teacher grant. I was actually shopping last night for my classroom, and I spent $45 and I was thinking, ‘Wow. This is gonna add up quick as a first-year teacher.’ So, I’m very grateful for the Education Foundation and the Mary Chilton DAR group that’s provided us with these funds,” Antonio said.
Antonio said she plans to use the money to create a “calm corner” in her classroom so her students with sensory overload have a place to relax when needed.
Allison Struck is the Executive Director of the Sioux Falls Public Schools Foundation. She said it’s important to put an emphasis on supporting teachers in their first year.
“We started this program because our board members had talked to staff, and they had looked at what other education foundations were doing around the country. One of the things they heard was we really need to support those first-time, first-year educators. It can be really overwhelming when you’re coming into a new school district, a new community, a new state, sometimes we have staff who are coming from other countries, and so it’s just a way to welcome them and pay it forward and say ‘we know that you’re going to spend money purchasing supplies for your classroom. Here’s $200 to help you with that,'” Struckman said.
Struck said teachers use the grant dollars for all sorts of items, including bulletin board materials, organization materials, and even snacks to help support their students in low-income areas.
Since there are still some teacher positions open in the district, more grants could be given out.
