Every teacher walks into their classroom wanting the same thing: to give their students the very best opportunity to learn, grow and succeed. But educators can’t do it alone. For Principal Jason Kuhlman, supporting students starts with making sure the teachers who show up for them every day have the resources, encouragement and support they need to do what they do best.

“The teachers want the best for their students,” Kuhlman shared. “When teachers have to struggle, stress levels go up.” That struggle can take many forms. Educators are balancing the individual needs of their students, creating engaging lessons, building relationships with families and working to make their classrooms places where every student feels welcomed and prepared to participate.

When essential classroom resources are limited, another responsibility is added to an already full plate. Teachers may find themselves searching for supplies, stretching materials further than they were intended to go or spending their own money to make sure students have what they need. According to our Teacher Insight Survey 100% of teachers report spending their own money on classroom supplies.

That’s where support can make a meaningful difference.

Giving Teachers More Time to Focus on What Matters

Educators are the experts in their classrooms. They understand their students, their communities and the unique needs they encounter each day.

Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) works to complement that expertise by helping educators like Jason’s Staff access essential school supplies for their students and classrooms through programs Supply A Teacher or The Teacher Resource Center in Little Canada, MN.

When teachers don’t have to worry about where the next box of pencils, notebooks or other classroom essentials will come from, they have more capacity to focus on what matters most: their students.

For school leaders like Kuhlman, that support is also about making sure educators know that the work they do is seen and valued.

A supported teacher can walk into the classroom with more energy to encourage a student who is struggling. They can spend more time creating an engaging lesson instead of stressing about materials. And they can focus on building the relationships and sense of belonging that help students feel confident enough to learn, ask questions and try something new.

Those moments may seem small, but their impact can extend far beyond a single school day.

Investing in Teachers Is an Investment in Students

Behind every classroom is an educator who believes in what their students can become.

Kuhlman sees that potential every day.

“We believe that we will make a difference in our students’ lives, and we’ll make a difference in the world,” he said. “The Impact we have is huge, and I think that people forget that. We’re producing people that are going to go out in the world and change the world.”

It’s a powerful reminder of what is possible when educators have a community standing behind them.

The supplies KINF provides are tangible—a notebook a student can call their own, pencils ready for the next assignment or materials a teacher can use to bring a lesson to life. But the impact of having those resources reaches further. For students, being prepared can mean participating alongside their classmates. For teachers, it can mean knowing they aren’t solely responsible for filling every gap they see.

And for communities, it means investing in the people helping shape the next generation.

Read More Teacher Stories

Join the Mission

Every day, teachers show up for their students with passion, creativity, and dedication—but too many of them are doing it without the supplies they need to create the learning environments their students deserve. No teacher should have to choose between giving their students the best education possible and paying out of pocket for basic classroom materials.

You can help change that!