CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Before teachers in the Clarksville-Montgomery County school system set foot in their classrooms, many take a trip to the Teacher Warehouse.
The warehouse is fully stocked with items ranging from pencils, to binders, to hand sanitizer. All teachers in the school district can sign up to shop at the warehouse and take home a designated amount of items for free.
“Each shopping trip saves them about $40 when they come and utilize the store,” said Candy Johnson, Executive Director of the Education Foundation.
Johnson said last year 1300 teachers visited the store and saved a total of $47,000.
Purchases are calculated on a point system. Each teacher who signs up receives 30 points. Each item in the store has a designated number of points. New teachers can visit the warehouse three times in the first semester and twice in the spring. Returning teachers have two visits each semester.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Jamie Kilroy, a new teacher at West Creek High School. “I’ve always spent about $200 per year, maybe more on school supplies out of my own pocket. It’s nice to have this opportunity.”
Kilroy stocked up on items like copy paper, markers and sticky notes.
All items in the warehouse are donated through supply drives throughout the year. Volunteers help the Education Foundation maintain the warehouse.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know these teachers who work so hard every day and give their best, don’t have to spend out of their household income, to support our students,” said Johnson.
This is the 6th year for the warehouse and it has grown each year.
The Teacher Warehouse is open four times a month from late July through October and again in January through March.
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