APPLETON, Wis. — Parents aren’t the only ones struggling to buy back-to-school supplies amid a tough economy. Many educators struggle to fill the needs of their classrooms.

Ninety-four percent of teachers use their own money to purchase classroom necessities because of small classroom budgets, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

First-year teacher Melissa Coyle eagerly stocked her classroom bookshelf with colorful stories to prepare for the first day of school. 

Coyle said she decided to become a full-time educator after substitute teaching stints in college.

“I just graduated in May, so I am now able to teach on my own,” Coyle said.

Coyle is a kindergarten special education teacher at McKinley Elementary in Appleton. 

As a first-year teacher, Coyle said her district-funded classroom budget is $400. She said it is not enough to make necessary learning enhancements.

“I did not have money to put into my classroom for this school year. And there are a lot of things that I really wanted to change and update in the classroom,” Coyle said. “Buying supplies has been very tight for me this summer.”

Like many teachers in America, she turned to DonorsChoose. It’s an online crowdfunding site that allows people to donate directly to classrooms.

Eighty-eight percent of public schools in the U.S. have at least one teacher who’s asked for help on DonorsChoose, according to the crowdfunding website.

Coyle’s DonorsChoose page requests for help with buying sensory items. As a special education teacher, Coyle said her students have a variety of developmental delays and these supplies will help facilitate learning.

“Sensory tools really help to calm a child, to make them feel comfortable, and it can be very different for every child. Some children are afraid of noise, so we actually we have noise-cancelling headphones,” Coyle said.

Coyle said these supplies will help create a calming environment.

“The children that I have in my classroom when the majority of them are nonverbal and cannot speak, it takes a lot to try and find the different materials that are going to make them feel comfortable in the classroom, and that’s what’s most important,” Coyle said.

While Coyle hopes these supplies contribute to a year of big achievements, she said the successes are measured in the small gains.

“It could be, asking a child a question, and all of a sudden, they say, ‘Yes,’ and that was the first time they’ve spoken to you, and it took 10 months for that to happen, but seeing the smiles and the progress that the students in my classroom make this job so worthwhile,” Coyle said.

Coyle also has an Amazon wishlist.

Kylie Harwell, a spokesperson for the Appleton Area School District, issued the following statement in regard to school supply costs:

“It’s challenging to provide detailed information about funds for specific schools or classes since these can differ significantly by class type and school level and be influenced by factors like school grants, donations, and PTO/PTA support.

“While every Appleton Area School District school receives district funds for equipment and supplies, allocated based on student enrollment, that’s just part of the picture. Some schools also benefit from additional grant funding, as well as contributions from their PTO/PTA or community and business partners. Additionally, many of our staff members take advantage of grants offered through the Appleton Education Foundation.

“We are committed to ensuring that no student goes without the necessary school supplies. If families are facing difficulties in affording these items, we strongly encourage them to reach out to their school for assistance.”