"My school budget money is usually spent on basic supplies and music, and instruments, so I end up spending my own money each year on our concerts. Last year, we used battery-operated candles, so I purchased those on my own.
I'm pretty lucky to be in an affluent school district where most of my needs are met, so what I spend is usually extra. I sometimes run contests and reward students with pizza parties, so I pay for that.
I think elementary school teachers have a certain kind of thing that makes us special. If we see that our students need something, or we know they would enjoy something that the budget won't provide, we do what we can do give it to them. Nobody goes into teaching, especially elementary school, to make money. We do it for the kids." -- as told to Hibah Yousuf
NEXT: Keith Pickering-Walters
New teachers see fewer openings
