During New Teacher Orientation, Education Foundation staff surprised 61 educators by announcing that they would each receive a $250 First Time Teacher Grant. Educators from more than 25 schools in the Sioux Falls School District received the grants to purchase supplies for their classrooms (https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/education/2025/08/12/first-time-first-year-teachers-get-250-grants-for-classroom-supplies/85615408007/)
First-time teachers often spend their own money on classroom materials, as these items are not typically covered by school budgets. A recent survey from the Association of American Educators found that respondents spent an average of $673 out-of-pocket per year purchasing classroom supplies (https://www.aaeteachers.org/pr-educatorspendingsurvey-082423). With the $250 grants from the Education Foundation, teachers have purchased posters, art supplies, STEM labs, sets of books, bulletin board materials, organization kits, games, puzzles, dry erase markers, extra school supplies, and literacy manipulatives (https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2025/08/11/an-important-grant-helps-first-year-teachers-sioux-falls/)
New this year, the Education Foundation increased grant awards from $200 to $250, for a total of $15,250. Since 2011, the Education Foundation has awarded 1,111 First Time Teacher Grants. The Education Foundation provides $150 for each teacher, and the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation donates $100.
“We look forward to this announcement every year,” said Allison Struck, executive director of the Education Foundation. “We want to recognize and celebrate educators who have chosen to begin their careers in the Sioux Falls School District, and we want to show them that their work matters. Teachers know what’s missing or what’s needed to enrich their classrooms, and these grants empower them to make those decisions.”
In addition to First Time Teacher Grants, the Education Foundation launched a new program in August 2024—Replenish the Room Grants. Any teacher with two or more years of experience can apply for these $250 grants. More than 300 teachers applied in the first 48 hours last year. The Education Foundation will award Replenish the Room Grants later this week.
“We are grateful for the generous donors who champion our mission so that we can support both new teachers and veteran staff,” Struck said.
