There’s a unique kind of curiosity that comes when you step into a high school biology classroom for the first time–the thrill of exploration, exciting new instruments to experiment with, and the unmistakable energy of young minds on the verge of discovery. But behind the eagerness of innovation, are teachers balancing stimulation with reality; trying to do more with less every single day. 

For Cami Dahlstrom, who’s been teaching for over two decades, that challenge isn’t new–but felt as deeply as it did when she first began guiding students through the mysteries and wonders of tenth-grade biology. “It’s difficult in getting everything you need for the classroom,” Cami shares, “only because, you know, there’s budget cuts everywhere.” Like so many educators, she’s learned to stretch resources thin, turning careful and intentional lesson planning into an art form. “We really try to do our labs, not all on the same day, because we don’t have enough equipment.” When supplies are short, strategy becomes survival. 

“We really try to do our labs, not all on the same day, because we don’t have enough equipment.” When supplies are short, strategy becomes survival. 

That’s why a trip to Kids In Need Foundation’s Teacher Resource Center is more than just picking up pencils–it’s transformative access that Cami knows changes the game entirely. It fills in the gaps where school budgets fall short, providing the essentials that let her focus on what truly matters; her students. “Pencils, markers, colored pencils–anything that the kids come into my classroom and they need on a daily basis and they just…they don’t have access to it at home.” Cami sees those needs firsthand each and every day. “Those are the things that I want to make sure that kids have so that they can participate in whatever we’re doing, and never feel like ‘I can’t do this because I don’t have the supplies I need.’” 

She pauses, thoughtfully. “I never want a student to feel unprepared.”

That desire to empower every child showed up in the smallest of moments this year—when a student hesitantly asked if they could borrow just three colored pencils and promised to bring them back the next day. “I said, ‘How about you take this whole thing and leave it at home?’ And they’re like, ‘Really? That’s so nice.’” That moment stuck with her. “It’s always like that moment where you’re feeling like, Man, I didn’t even have to go buy this but I’m feeling like this hero right to this child.”

“It’s always like that moment where you’re feeling like, Man, I didn’t even have to go buy this but I’m feeling like this hero right to this child.”

Cami smiles. “So I think that’s what Kids In Need does—just really gives teachers who are already like these superheroes in the classroom, just like that extra advantage to make the kids feel more special.”

“It’s so helpful.”

For Cami, it’s never been just about teaching biology—it’s about making sure every student walks through her door knowing they belong, that they’re capable, and that they matter. With the right tools in their hands, their confidence grows as fast as their curiosity. And for a teacher like Cami, even a simple colored pencil becomes a symbol of something far greater: possibility. Because when students are supported, they don’t just learn—they thrive.

Read more stories about Teachers like Cami

At Kids in Need Foundation, we believe every student should have equal access to the opportunities and resources necessary for a quality education. Our mission is to create equitable learning spaces by providing essential supplies and support to under-resourced students and teachers across the country. As the only national nonprofit dedicated to serving schools where 70% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-cost meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), we are committed to ensuring every student has the supplies they need to learn with confidence and reach their full potential.

Written by: Emily Pineda