COLUMBUS, Ohio — As students go back to school this fall, teachers are heading back too.

Studies show more than 90% of teachers pay for classroom necessities out of pocket. At Davis Middle School in Dublin, there’s a foundation to help teachers continue the work of a woman who had been there to help for more than a decade. 

Teresa Francois was a substitute teacher at Davis for 13 years. Teaching middle school math was her passion.

“She was here to help kids. And if she had extra time, she was also tutoring students in math. She was she was here to help,” said Disa Banker, a 7th grade language arts teacher at Davis and Teresa’s friend. 

In July 2022, Teresa was offered a full-time position as an 8th grade math teacher, which Paul shared was her .dream job. “As soon as she spoke to our principal, she called me immediately. She said, ‘I got the job. I’m going to teach eighth grade at Davis.’ I was so elated and so excited for her,” said Paul Francois. 

But tragically, she was never able to actually fulfill that dream. About ten days after she accepted the role, they received the diagnosis of stage four pancreatic cancer.

Teresa entered treatment at The James Cancer Center at Ohio State. “The support that we received from the Davis community during that time was absolutely amazing. Really. And I know Teresa was just overwhelmed by it as well,” said Paul Francois. 

Paul would have just 8 more months with his wife, who he had been with since high school.

“Obviously, it was never enough time, and it was never going to be enough time. But I’m so grateful that we had those eight months because we talked about everything. And I asked her what she wanted her legacy to be and kind of her lasting impact,” said Paul Francois. 

She shared with him her vision: a fund for teachers, “so many of the teachers spend their own money, come out of pocket just for things to improve their classroom for student recognition, whatever it may be.”

At her memorial service, they asked for contributions to that fund instead of flowers. That fund quickly grew to more than $30,000. 

They called it the Teachers Helping Teachers’ Foundation.

Last fall, each teacher began the year with a 100 dollar gift card. They were able to buy new book sets, sponsor academic programs and mental health campaigns,

“Even teachers that didn’t know Teresa that were brand new to the building felt the love of our community and came to me and said, even though I didn’t know who she was, this is what Davis is about. I am so glad that I’m here,” said Paul Francois.

Paul and their 4 adult children are brainstorming ways to grow the fund. “I’m going to dream big because she was such an inspiration to all of us,” said Paul Francois

For more information or to make a contribution to the foundation, visit their website.