Phillipsburg teachers find funding for school projects at DonorsChoose.org

PHILLIPSBURG | Michele Schlicher has four people from across the county to thank for the supplies to help her 3-year-old students get a jump-start learning to read.

The preschool teacher at Phillipsburg's Early Childhood Learning Center is one of the first teachers in the district to get a project proposal funded through the Web site DonorsChoose.org.

The site matches donors to educational causes, and district administrators hope it catches on. Schlicher, for one, hailed the program as a huge success.

"It was really effortless on my part," she said. "I think it's just amazing how they're able to match donors with teachers for such specific needs."

Marian Trapani, a Phillipsburg School District administrator, said teachers are encouraged to use the program to ease their load of out-of-pocket expenses.

"The impetus for the program is to make funds available directly to teachers for projects where funding may be scarce," she said.

Schlicher received $237 for an easel and pocket chart to help with early literacy lessons.

Pennsylvania teachers have found the Web site, too. A Broughal Middle School teacher in Bethlehem has asked for a digital camera, a teacher at Easton Area Middle School needs a laminator and voice recorder and a Williams Township teacher seeks additions to her literature library.

Donors have until Saturday to come up with $1,719 for an LCD projector sought by a DeFranco Elementary teacher in Upper Mount Bethel Township.

Katie Bisbee, DonorsChoose.org executive director for the East Coast, said the site began eight years ago with Charles Best, a teacher in the Bronx, N.Y.

The program went nationwide last year, Bisbee said. Donors contribute money and DonorsChoose.org purchases the necessary supplies, she said.

"It's really a model that allows people to donate in an accountable way," Bisbee said.

Early Childhood Learning Center Principal Judith Leh said she agreed with the need for the level of trust the site provides.

"It's a real sure way for donors to put money where they want it to be -- right in the classroom," she said Friday.

Dawn Vatuna, who teaches 4-year-olds at the Early Childhood Learning Center, said her proposal for $1,000 for music-related equipment has yet to find a donor on the site, but she's not discouraged.

"I was told those kinds of projects can take longer," she said Friday. "I plan on trying again."

School administrators must review projects with teachers before faculty can request supplies, said Trapani.

Donors, whether individually or as a company or other organization, can access the site and search for projects they'd like to fund.