New teachers at Columbia Public Schools received support from the Columbia Public Schools Foundation earlier this week.
These new district teachers – whether first-year or more experienced – received $100 gift certificates at the foundation’s welcome breakfasts on Monday and Tuesday. While the money can be used in any way they want, much of it goes back into the classroom, said Katie Harris, executive director of CPSF.
“(Teachers) so often have to dig into their own pockets to get everything they need for their classroom,” she said. “… So far, we’ve heard that people are buying books, checking off Amazon wish lists, getting materials for a sensory wall, decorations and classroom organization, math materials for calendar time, and some things for stress and anxiety relief or a quiet corner.
“Just in the few responses we’ve received, you see a lot of materials and books, but also a variety of other things that they can use to set up their classrooms. We provide the additional things that the school district can’t provide.”
About 300 gift cards worth about $30,000 were distributed. Thanks to the foundation’s partnership with the Central Bank, there are no fees for the grant, allowing teachers to use the full $100 on the cards. The foundation not only awards grants to teachers, but also to district programs such as e-sports.
“This is our second year running this program and it’s still a surprise, even to some of the administrators who were in the room and were there last year. They weren’t sure if we would do it again,” Harris said. “I think the first day, the teachers were a little bit surprised and applauded. The second day, they were immediately hooked, although I don’t think people let them in on the secret from day one.”
There was a lot of gratitude and a lot of conversation about what the gift cards should be spent on, Harris added.
The new district teachers also received tote bags with the foundation’s logo. This was done before the gift card distribution so the teachers had a chance to fill them, Harris said.
She joined the foundation as executive director in 2022 and, while researching other public school foundations, found that they had new grants for teachers, which led the foundation to take up the idea last year.
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“We really wanted to find a way to recognize and welcome new teachers as they begin their careers in our district,” Harris said, noting that scholarships for new teachers vary from foundation to foundation and that this is something other foundations may not do annually if funds allow. “This was something our board was really excited about last year and something we really wanted to make happen. After the success of last year … they decided they wanted to continue this.”
The foundation is supported by a $3 million endowment and also receives public support. While other foundations are supported by payroll contributions from their employees, CPSF is funded entirely by outside donations, Harris said.
“As a foundation, we are grateful that the program is now in its second year and we have so much support from the community that we can continue to do it to thank the teachers,” she said.
From 2023: Teachers from the new Columbia Public Schools are welcomed at a district event with breakfast and advice
Charles Dunlap covers local politics, community stories and other general issues for the Tribune. Reach him at [email protected] or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support important local journalism.
