We’re thrilled to celebrate the winners of our 2025 Back to School Giveaway! This year, 10 incredible teachers each received $500 to help clear their classroom wishlists.

From books and art supplies to hands-on STEM tools, these funds will make a lasting impact in classrooms across the country. Thank you to everyone who nominated a teacher, you helped us shine a spotlight on the amazing work educators do every day.

Winner Spotlights

Carla Jones – Carl A. Furr Elementary School

Carla works with K-5 students in the Learning Lab, a space where children create, explore, and collaborate through hands-on activities. She says she “plans to use this prize to restock consumables and add makerspace materials for my younger students. For my older elementary students, I’m excited to bring back a force and motion project in which students will be able to construct machines - from the design phase to building and finally testing—bringing learning to life through powerful, hands-on experience.”

Susan Farrell-Poncelet – Sanborn Central School District

Susan teaches both Middle and High School English and Art. With her prize, she “plans to use the gift card to purchase books my students have requested for my classroom library as well as supplies to have on hand for students who need them. Little things sometimes make all the difference between having a crummy day to having a manageable or even great day when they have access to the things they need.”

Katie Hastrich – Ernie Davis Academy

Katie has been teaching for 20 years and currently serves as a 7th grade AIS English teacher. She’s eager to make her classroom a comfortable and inspiring place, sharing that she “would love to add some more books to our classroom library, I would also like to get some more wall decor to inspire my students (since the walls are all white), I will probably also buy some more whiteboard markers, sharpies and anything else that I can think of to make my classroom cozy and comfortable for my students.”

Michelle Reed – Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts

Michelle teaches junior high Visual Arts and Dual Enrollment Art History for seniors. She’s considering a variety of fun and creative options with her prize, including “a large digital clock with rainbow colors I thought the kids would get a kick out of, some tshirts for them to iron something they created with our cricut, or maybe a large dry erase calendar we can write birthdays on!” No matter what she chooses, Michelle wants it to be “something the kids will have fun with.”