MILWAUKEE — Hundreds of dollars for paper, pencils, markers, art supplies and other classroom essentials can quickly add up for teachers preparing for a new school year.
On Monday, the MPS Foundation tried to take some of that financial pressure off Milwaukee educators through its first-ever “Teachers Pick” event, offering free classroom supplies to as many as 1,000 Milwaukee Public Schools teachers before students return Sept. 1.
Teachers drove through the MPS warehouse at 734 W. Walnut St., selected from three boxed supply options and had volunteers load the materials directly into their vehicles.
The choices included everyday classroom essentials, creative and art materials, and cleaning supplies — items several teachers said they would otherwise end up purchasing themselves.
Watch: MPS teachers get free classroom supplies at first-ever drive-through as out-of-pocket costs add up
Teachers say hundreds can come out of their own pockets
First-grade teacher Stephanie Lumpkins of Bruce Elementary said getting a classroom ready can easily cost her around $300.
“It's very expensive, especially coming out of our pockets, you know, this right here helps us out a lot,” Lumpkins said.
When asked how much she might spend without assistance, Lumpkins estimated “roughly about a good $300.”
Her experience reflects a broader financial burden reported by teachers nationally.
A DonorsChoose survey released Aug. 18 found that the 2,501 public-school classroom teachers who use the platform and responded to its survey reported spending an average of about $600 of their own money on supplies for their students and classrooms during the 2025–26 school year.
The survey found nearly half said that without outside funding, their students would simply go without some resources. Thirty-seven percent of respondents also reported working an additional job.
For Marshall High School teacher Alexandria Mallette, having some of those classroom expenses covered means one less concern as she prepares for students.
“Supplies are like so essential to the classroom, so just not having to have that worry of the financial stress of it is super helpful,” Mallette said. “I've spent in prior years so much money on supplies, so to have this burden lifted is so helpful, and I can focus on getting my kids ready for whatever they need.”
Mallette said her own spending can also reach into the hundreds of dollars over the course of a school year.
A first for the MPS Foundation
MPS Foundation Executive Director Myra Edwards said the giveaway grew out of a longtime goal of Foundation Board President John Kersey and was intentionally held just before teachers begin setting up their classrooms.
“It has been a long time dream of our board chair John's to have something like this where we give out supplies and it has finally come to fruition,” Edwards said.
Edwards described putting the event together as an “all hands on deck” effort that included district support and community volunteers.
Kersey said the Foundation purchased the supplies and wanted the event to send another message to educators: their work is valued.
“There's no question in our mind that teachers are the heroes, and anything that we can do to help teachers at the Milwaukee Public Schools is just gonna benefit the whole community,” Kersey said.
Kersey, an MPS alumnus himself, said he sees the effort as part of broader community support for the district and an opportunity for alumni and others to give back.
MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, who helped greet teachers and load vehicles Monday, said supporting teachers is part of getting schools ready for students.
She said the district wants to make sure classrooms are prepared so students return to “welcoming and loving and joyful learning communities.”
Cassellius said one of the district's biggest goals for Sept. 1 is getting every student into class on the first day, followed by improving academic achievement and making sure teachers have the support they need.
‘A starting point’
At Browning School, one teacher who works with first- through fifth-grade students in a special-needs bridging program chose art supplies because he said his students enjoy creative activities during their free time.
He said he has previously turned to discount stores such as Dollar Tree to help fill gaps in his classroom.
The supplies from Monday's giveaway, he said, give him “a starting point ... to get something at least to go by.”
Other educators echoed that sentiment.
One Bruce Elementary teacher said educators frequently reach into their own pockets because they do not want students or families to go without.
“Teachers spend a lot of money on their students out of their own pocket because we care about them,” she said. “We want them to have everything that they need.”
Her message about Monday's giveaway was simple: “Every little bit helps.”
A full-circle moment
Among the volunteers loading supplies Monday was retired MPS teacher Charla Reetz, who remembers when educators did not have opportunities like the “Teachers Pick” event.
“I remember those years of just we didn't have any other recourse, so it was rummage sales and it was Goodwill and it was getting from your relatives, so this is great,” Reetz said.
For me, Reetz's involvement made this story personal.
She was my fourth-grade teacher at O.W. Holmes School.
In fact, she is also the reason I learned about Monday's giveaway. Reetz reached out with the news tip and encouraged me to cover what teachers and volunteers were doing.
“I think you're a great avenue to get the word out of the great stuff that MPS is doing and how the community came in to help MPS teachers,” Reetz said.
Years after teaching me in a fourth-grade classroom, Reetz was back helping another generation of Milwaukee educators prepare theirs.
MPS students return for the first day of the 2026–27 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
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