Nationwide, many educators purchase items out of pocket. One of Woodlawn PTA’s budget goals each year is to provide $100 in discretionary funds to each Woodlawn Elementary staff member to use for items that directly support their classroom or Woodlawn students.
In the past, staff have used these funds to subsidize field trip costs, purchase tee shirts for their class, purchase classroom books and other materials, and purchase items to enhance teaching remotely during the pandemic, to name just a few.
This year, Ms. Audel has used her funds to revamp the fish tanks in the library, another teacher has used her funds to purchase seating for her classroom, and the kindergarten team has used their funds to purchase educational items and storage for their classrooms.