Meet Autumn Giese: A Teacher Filling the Gaps So Her Students Can Thrive

If you walk into Autumn Giese’s fifth grade classroom, you’ll be transported back into the feeling of being in school yourself–the sounds and sights of learning in action. Pages turning, pencils furiously scribbling, laughter escaping from students as assignments and projects go delightfully sideways (before straightening back on course!). But what you won’t see are the worries that she carries quietly with her each time she walks into her room; the cost of scissors, makers, pencils, notebooks… the constantly growing and changing supply lists that too often end up coming out of her own pockets.

“I have been teaching for four years, and I taught fifth grade all four of those years. Over the course of my four years teaching, I’ve spent easily $800 to $1,000 a year out of my own money,” Autumn shares with a solemn nod that carries the weight of that truth.

It’s a number that makes you pause. In such an all-encompassing profession–where balancing enrichment and instruction is both an art and a science–the reality of educators going above and beyond in order for students to have a meaningful experience is hard to look away from. Especially when you hear about what they forgo stemming from systematic restrictions caused by limited school budgets and a lack of access to resources.

“Oftentimes I’ll need to sacrifice doing things for myself…I would need to say, ‘Well my kiddos really need this for this assignment, and it’s important that they learn it because this is their one chance.’”

Having to choose between both personal indulgences – or even personal necessities – and the essential tools in order to do their job well is a decision no profession should have to make. (Like so many educators across the U.S., Autumn works at a title 1 school, and it is not uncommon for students attending these schools to show up without essential supplies to learn. In fact, there are over 755 Title 1 schools in Autumn’s home state of Minnesota. )

“Learning that this place existed… I didn’t believe it until I came here.”

So when she discovered Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), it almost seemed too good to be true. “Learning that this place existed, number one, I didn’t believe it until I came here,” Autumn laughs, thinking back to her first trip to the Minnesota Teacher Resource Center (TRC). “And number two, I was very impressed with the variety of supplies that you get. It’s always changing, always turning – it’s awesome.” For Mrs.Giese, the impact isn’t just about having enough materials–it’s about what comes when each and every one of her students has the tools in their hands that they need to confidently participate in class. “This place [provides] everything they could need.” 

Having the access to resources like the KINF TRC means that the impact goes with her students outside of the classroom too. “I’ve had kids come to me and say, ‘Mrs. Giese, I want to finish my coloring, but we don’t have anything at home for that.’” Being able to hand them their very own supplies to take home? “It’s very impactful.”

It’s the little things – like unlimited access to both new and used books to get students excited to read, or index cards for a study session at home – that can change how a student looks at education.

“Not every [student] is lucky enough to have a notebook or a pack of index cards,” Autumn says. “A lot of families [don’t have access to] have even just basic things like paper and pencils at home.” 

That’s why Autumn encourages every teacher she meets to take advantage of what KINF has to offer. “I would tell them they should’ve done it yesterday,” she laughs. “It’s awesome. It’s worth the time. The whole process is super smooth.” 

Because in the world of educators like Autumn, where every supply tells a student that they can succeed, that they belong – every sharpened pencil, every crayon drawing, is a small victory – a chance for color in a place that might otherwise go blank.

Through KINF and the generosity of its partners, educators like Autumn can continue to create learning spaces filled with opportunity, creativity, and hope. Meet more educators like Autumn.

Written by: Emily Pineda