'Adopt-a-teacher' gives extra help to teachers amid pandemic

It can be difficult enough for teachers to get their classroom equipped during a normal back-to-school season.

COVID-19 makes it even tougher.

IT'S BEEN A LONGSTANDINGCHALLENGE FOR TEACHERS HAVINGTO PAY FOR CLASSROOM SUPPLIESOUT OF THEIR OWNPOCKETS.ACCORDING TO U.S. NEWSAND WORLD REPORT, OHIOTEACHERS PAID ON AVERAGE - 444DOLLARS OF THEIR OWN MONEY ONCLASSROOM SUPPLIES LAST YEAR.IN KENTUCKY, IT WAS 404DOLLARS, AND IN INDIANA, 462DOLLARS.BUT AS WCPO 9 NEWSREPORTER PAT LAFLEUR TELLS US,SOME GROUPS ARE POPPING UP ONSOCIAL MEDIA TO SUPPORTTEACHERS AS THEY RETURN TOTHEIR CLASSROOMS DURING THISTIME OF UNCERTAINTY.FOR VETERAN MASON 4TH GRADELANGUAGE ARTS AND SOCIALSTUDIES TEACHER CAROLGEBHARDT, 17 YEARS IN THECLASSROOM HAS PREPARED HER FORA LOT.BUT COVID-19 HAS HERASKING NEW QUESTIONS.(SOT)Carol Gebhardt/4th gradeteacher, Mason City Schools00:03:18 Just going back toschool, just -- we wear masks,and kids like to see our face.So, can we get masks that areclear?

Can we just wear theshield?AS FOR TRADITIONALSCHOOL SUPPLIES... THAT'S ADIFFERENT GAME, TOO, DURING APANDEMIC.(SOT) Gebhardt00:03:31 I go through hundredsof pencils a year.

And so thisyear, they have to have alltheir supplies in a box ortheir own container, so that'ssomething, thinking ahead, arethey going to have that?TEACHERS HAVE ALSO ASKED FORLARGER PLASTIC SHIELDS, SOTHEY CAN WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITHA STUDENT SAFELY.AS FOR HERSTUDENTS SHE'LL CONTINUE TOTEACH ONLINE, THAT'S ANOTHERSET OF CHALLENGES.(SOT)Gebhardt00:06:08 How will Ireally get to know thesestudents online?

You know,it's a little different.(BUTTSOTs)00:07:45 Your wholemindset needs to change.MASONSCHOOLS PARENT JEANETTECHARLES SAID HER THINKINGSTARTED TO CHANGE THIS YEAR,TOO.(SOT) JeanetteCharles/Adopt-a-Teacher Masonorganizer00:01:06 Over thesummer, I've been collectingextra bottles of handsanitizer every time I went tothe store, just to make surethe teachers had enough whenwe went back to school.IT LEDHER TO START A FACEBOOK PAGE-- ADOPT-A-TEACHER MASON 2020-- WHERE TEACHERS CAN POST ANAMAZON WISHLIST OF SUPPLIESFOR THEIR CLASSROOM, ANDMEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN"ADOPT" THEM AND HELP PURCHASESUPPLIES.(SOT) Charles00:08:41We've already adopted 145teachers, and when I checkedthis morning there were only ahandful that had not beenadopted yet."ADOPT-A-TEACHER"PROGRAMS AREN'T NEW,BUTGEBHARDT SAID IT'S TAKEN ON ANEW MEANING AS COVID-19PERSISTS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.(SOT) Gebhardt00:10:42 Nomatter what district, it givesthem the necessary utensils oritems that they need to startthe school year out and in apositive way.

A lot of theteachers were asking for theshields, and now they feelcomfortable that, when schoolstarts, I have what I need.FORCHARLES, SHE SAID SOCIAL MEDIAHAS HELPED HER REACH MOREPEOPLE THAN SHE AT FIRSTTHOUGHT POSSIBLE.(SOT) Charles00:09:40 Make a Facebook grouppage.

Invite your friends.Invite the teachers that youknow, and have everybodyspread the word.

Just keepasking spread the word.(BUTTSOTs)00:09:51 Everybody wantsto help teachers and get themthe help they need.