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Dec 6, 2008 10:32 pm US/Central
Registry Helps Teachers Get Supplies For Students
WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Nydam spends hundreds of dollars of his own money each year on things like desk rulers and science books he needs for curriculum.
CBS
During tough economic times we all struggle to see how far we can make a dollar go. Teachers are no different. The cost of school supplies has gone up, but there is a new organization helping with those costs.
Joel Nydam is a 4th grade teacher who loves his job. He said walking into his Otter Lake Elementary classroom every day is like walking into a second home. And just like at home, his classroom requires certain things that can only be bought with his own money.
"A lot of places [are] having their supplies [prices] go up. Buying little books or different things like that for the students, their price is going up and it's hard to make the same amount of money go the same distance," said Nydam.
Nydam spends hundreds of dollars of his own money each year on things like desk rulers and science books he needs for curriculum. But this school year he discovered a website that has kept money in his pocket. It's called
Gold Star Registry.
Gold Star Registry works just like a bridal or a baby registry. Teachers create an account and then select from over 6,000 products that are specific to there classroom needs. Parents and friends can then go on the registry and either buy those products, or make a donation.
The supplies are then delivered directly to the teacher's school, saving them a trip to the store. Considering the average teacher spends about $500 a year of their own money, Gold Star has become a sort of Christmas in the classroom with parents and other donors playing the role of Santa Claus.
"If parents can help teachers out by donating either product or putting money into the piggy bank it is a greater alternative for parents to be involved in their child's education as well as it helps the teacher," said Pam Deters of Gold Star.
The students are ultimately getting the "gold star." Through the program they are receiving educational tools they may not have without the registry.
"Just in the short amount of time, I have seen a difference and I will definitely keep using that throughout the years," said Nydam.
Since the registry was launched in June, over 5,000 teachers have created an account. That number continues to grow each day.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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