Project ZERO

(Photo:Jenna Lawson presents the grant check to new teachers Chuck Bottoms of Smith Elementary and Lissa Groter of Burnett Junior High

Wal-Mart of Wylie donated $1,000 to the WISD Education Foundation for its Project ZERO-Zero-year Educator Resource Opportunity.  Project ZERO is designed to assist teachers with zero years experience purchase items for their classrooms.  Because of state directives and budget constraints, school districts are not able to provide most classroom supplies.  Teachers often use their personal funds to supplement shortfalls in materials or equipment.  This is especially burdensome for new teachers who haven’t accumulated supplies from years of teaching.  Therefore, the foundation is using the Wal-Mart donation to purchase each new teacher a $25 gift card to defray the cost of starting up his or her classroom. 

“No matter how well planned a school budget is, teachers still spend their own money for classroom items. This is especially true for new educators,” said Jenna Lawson, Executive Director of the WISD Education Foundation.