$10,000 Goes To Skokie School, Teacher Surprised By Classroom Supplies

SKOKIE, IL — Only one out of every 20 classroom teachers in the U.S. say their school supply budget will be enough for the coming school year.

Teachers said they spend an average of $750 out of pocket on supplies last year, with almost one out of every three teachers reporting they spent more than $1,000 during the 2020-21 school year, according to recent survey.

With inflation at its highest level in 40 years, the rising cost of school supplies is making it even harder for families and teachers alike to get the tools for learning this year.

Last month, a Skokie School District 68 teacher with a large social media following presented a colleague with school supplies for a year as part of a promotion by New Jersey-based retailer Burlington and Minneapolis-based nonprofit AdoptAClassroom.org.

Diego Marin, a math teacher at Old Orchard Junior High with 1.4 million TikTok followers, surprised science teacher Courtney Keenan with a box filled with supplies in a paid partnership video posted to the platform.

"Our science teacher Ms. Keenan goes above and beyond, creating a welcoming space in her classroom, as well as building meaningful relationships with all of her students," Marin said in the video. "She often puts their needs before her own, and students are constantly talking about how much fun they have in her class."

Kennan is known as the last teacher to leave the building for the day, according to Marin. She supports and attends student extracurricular events, spends hours planning engaging lessons and has made her classroom a calm learning environment for everyone.

Her surprise school supply box included notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters, poppers and other essentials, according to a spokesperson.

Company representatives said Burlington has gifted $10,000 to five schools, including Old Orchard Junior High, while providing classroom supplies for the year to one teacher nominated by their peers.

The department store formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory has partnered with the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt group AdoptAClassroom.org since 2017, according to the two organizations.

The $10,000 donated gift cards can be used by all the teachers at Old Orchard Junior High to make purchases at AdoptAClassroom's online marketplace.

Ann Pifer, executive director of the nonprofit, said the corporation had been an amazing partner for the past six years.

“They really care about the communities where they operate and where their customers and associates live and work,” Pifer said in a statement. “Burlington knows when they support high needs schools with the tools and materials their students need to learn and succeed in school, they are building a better future for everyone.”

Through Aug. 29, store shoppers are being presented with the option of rounding up their purchase to the support the nonprofit.

The 10-day Illinois sales tax holiday on school supplies, as well as eligible clothes and schools, runs through Sunday.

Read more: Back-To-School Tax Holiday Runs Through Aug. 14