Mission Minute | Teachers’ Treasures Store
The relationship between Washington Township Schools and Teachers’ Treasures began in 2016, when district leadership took an important step to support new educators. A grant written by the Director of Elementary Education, with support from the Washington Township Schools Foundation, covered Teachers’ Treasures memberships for new staff. Over time, that commitment expanded to include all district staff, along with additional mobile pop‑up sites that helped bring free classroom supplies directly to teachers.
Removing Barriers, Saving Time, and Supporting Equity
For many teachers, especially those working and living on the north side of the city, traveling downtown to access the main Teachers’ Treasures store was a challenge. The new Washington Township location removes that barrier, making it easier than ever for educators to access the free resources they need.
A Win for Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Beyond convenience, the Washington Township Teachers’ Treasures store offers a meaningful advantage when it comes to recruiting and retaining high‑quality educators. According to Dr. Kelly Wittman, Director of Human Resources for the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, “We know that teachers’ time is so valuable, so having something so conveniently located will be critical. We also know it gives us a competitive advantage. The more ways that we create easy access to supplies and resources for our staff, the more successful they’ll be in the classroom and the more successful they are in the classroom, the more likely it is they’re gonna wanna stay with Washington Township schools, which is our goal.”
Supporting Students Through Experiential Learning
The impact of this new store extends beyond teachers. By integrating experiential learning opportunities, the store will also serve as a meaningful job placement site for North Central High School students. “We have multiple placements in the community that help students post-secondary and this is an opportunity that we have not had for a job placement. So it helps grow our Program even further.” explains Dr. Meredith McClarnon, Special Education Department Chair at North Central High School.
These hands‑on opportunities help students build real‑world skills that aren’t always available through traditional community job placements, particularly in areas like inventory systems and logistics.
A Shared Commitment to Teachers and Students
At its core, the Teachers’ Treasures store exists to remove financial burdens from educators, ensure classrooms are well‑equipped, and strengthen the overall learning environment for students. The Washington Township satellite store embodies what’s possible when community organizations align around a shared mission.
To learn more about the new Teachers’ Treasures store, check out the video below.
Teachers’ Treasures Store Mission Minute on YouTube
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