TREND Winter 2017/2018 | Page 6

H elping T eachers F und Through our benefits partnership with AMBA, a DonorsChoose.org corporate partner, ProEd awarded Ms. Holmes her project. We have also inspired other educators around the state to create projects and post them on DonorsChoose.org, and we will have more matching funds and donations available to educators in 2018. A teacher in Spring Hill, TN had a big idea. Ms. Holmes found that Project Based Learning (PBL) could revolutionize her Social Studies instruction for middle schoolers. Her principal was on board to give it a try, her students were excited about the idea, but there was one problem: she needed a few pieces of equipment before she could implement this new curriculum. She is not alone. In the recent Professional Educators of Tennessee Member Survey for 2017, 91% of our members reported spending more than $100 out of their own pockets. Of those members, 70% spent over $300, and most alarming is that one in five spent over $500 on their classrooms! Ms. Holmes funded her idea without spending her own money. She posted a project on DonorsChoose.org, received the equipment and implemented her idea. Sometimes, as educators, we just need more materials; sometimes we need materials as a stepping stone to something much greater. Either way, DonorsChoose has raised over $400M and funded more than 270,000 teachers. So whether you need flexible seating, a therapeutic swing, a classroom set of books, or want to start a club, build a sustainable garden, engage your community through literacy… This year make an investment in yourself, and let the donors fund your classroom projects!