It’s the back to school season and kids aren’t the only ones stocking up on school supplies.
Many teachers are doing their yearly haul to get their classrooms ready for the first day of school, like Lauren Skonieczny and Sara Murray.
Skonieczny has been a teacher for six years, the last five spent teaching second grade in the Aurora School District.
Murray teaches fifth grade at Albert Einstein Academy in North Olmsted – that's a charter school.
News 5 followed both women on their annual back to school shopping trips – Skonieczny at the Bainbridge Target and Murray at Meijer in Avon to see what they're buying how much they're spending.
"I have Purell that I always need just because second graders germs. I try to stock up on grading supplies, flare pens, smelly markers to give positive notes to the kids,” Skonieczny said.
According to a study released last year by the National Center for Education Statistics, almost all public school teachers spent their own money on classroom supplies in the 2014-2015 school year.
"Every year my classroom I think throughout the year, I spend at least $400 sometimes more,” Murray said.
On average, teachers spent about $480 without being reimbursed.
It's not just public school teachers, nearly 90% of charter school teachers spend their own money too, but both women say their schools do provide them with many of the items they need.
"Expo markers, pens, and they're so good about if we need something we can ask and they'll purchase it for us,” Skonieczny said.
"We have wish lists for bigger items in our classrooms, materials and resources. If we let them know they do their best to get those for us,” Murray said.
But a lot of those extra items, like the classroom library section Skonieczny started in her classroom last year, and supplies for students who forgot them or are in need, come out of the teacher's pocket.
"I always buy for at least three or four kids. You never know it varies every year,” Murray said.
So these women are always on the hunt for a good deal. Murray found great savings with a 15% off teacher's only coupon at Meijer.
"It's nice, because it helps us save that money for a longer period of time...it also helps me space out, you know, getting the items that I need for my classroom,” Murray said.
Even though Target's teacher sale ended last month, Skonieczny is still finding some good buys at a spot moms know well.
"Target usually is a good spot to shop with the dollar spot,” she said.
Both women will spend hundreds of their own dollars, but they say their money is well spent.
"I think it's part of being a teacher. It's who we are,” Murray said.
"Seeing them on the first day of school come in excited to see all the fresh and bright new things that I've incorporated in my classroom. It's worth every penny,” Skonieczny said.
Teacher discounts
Meijer is offering a 15% discount to teachers on their school and home office purchases now through September 28. Teachers must show their school ID at the customer service desk to receive their coupon. More information can be found here: https://www.meijer.com/seasonal/teacher-appreciation.html
A.C. Moore offers teachers 15% off their entire sale and regular price purchases every time they shop as long as they present a state issued photo ID, school ID or pay stub, Home school Affidavit or IHIP approval letter from school District or your State Home Schooling Certificate, or Current State Issued Preschool, Daycare Facility, Art Educator certificate or license. More information can be found here: https://acmoore.com/teachers-discount
Barnes & Noble offers a 20% discount to educators throughout the year with its Barnes & Noble Educator Program. Also, now through September 15, educators can get special discounts of 25% off most products on its Happy Educator Appreciation Days held every Saturday and Sunday. More information can be found here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/h/bn-educators
Office Depot and Office Max are offering teachers 20% back in rewards for their Teacher Appreciation Days. Its valid on qualifying purchased when they present their rewards member number, teacher ID card, and coupon at checkout. Find the coupon here: https://www.officedepot.com/a/browse/teacher-resources/N=5+1186205/
