Page 14 - 2022 Impact Report
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14 CREDIT UNION IMPACT REPORT
BRIDGING THE GAP FOR TEACHERS
A recent report conducted by the Economic Policy kits,” Barrett said. “These will enable them to shift
Institute revealed that Michigan, along with California, our activities at school to learning and investigating
lead the nation in unreimbursed teacher spending. phenomena within their homes as needed, allowing
Each year, Michigan teachers spend $628 to enhance for our investigations to be flexible, meaningful and
the lives and education of their students. This is well engaging.”
above the national average of $459.
“MEA members are dedicated to helping youth
To help off-set these costs, Michigan credit unions in our communities grow and succeed, and this
have various grant programs aimed at classroom grant is one way to show our appreciation for these
supplies, such as books, and overall classroom community heroes,” said Deidre Davis, MSUFCU’s
improvement. Read more about some of these Chief Marketing Officer.
efforts from 2021.
Grants for Classroom Supplies
Classroom Improvement Grants In 2021, United Financial Credit Union donated 225
Last year, Kellogg Community Credit Union (KCCU) books to elementary students. The books chosen
in Battle Creek awarded 20 teachers throughout will help teach financial literacy, and the credit union
West Michigan with grants for their classrooms. The put together a packet to go with the books and an
Teacher Grant Program totaled $6,000 in funds. activity for each student at the local schools.
“At KCCU, we are committed to helping teachers who Books were also made available to students through
are educating our students and future leaders,” said Marshall Community Credit Union (MCCU)’s nearly
CEO Tracy Miller. “We know that teachers work hard $1,000 donation to Marshall High School (MHS)
and put in a lot of time and often their own money to through their mini-grant program, which was used
provide the best possible learning experience for their to purchase 100 copies of To Kill a Mockingbird by
students. Our hope is with these grants educators are Harper Lee.
able to get the supplies and programs they need so
their students can succeed in the classroom.”
“Receiving this award will allow my dreams of
inclusion to come true,” said Kristen Wick, Portage
Central Elementary teacher, who is able to welcome
students with autism into her general education
kindergarten classroom through a KRESA off-site
program. “Inclusive classrooms are welcoming and
support the diverse academic, social, emotional,
and communication needs of all students. When
done right, inclusive classrooms benefit everyone.
Structuring my classroom based on TEACCH
strategies means that I need supplies to make this
happen and with this grant I can now purchase these
much-needed items.”
“We are in need of replacement supplies like this after
Robert Barrett, a science teacher at Kent many copies of the book were misplaced or damaged
Intermediate School District in Grand Rapids, during our closure due to COVID-19 last spring,” said
received an MIDream grant through a partnership MHS English Department Chair Mike Fitzpatrick.
with MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) and the
Michigan Education Association Financial Services “We know too many teachers that purchase needed
(MEA FS), which includes $250 for the recipient to use items for their classrooms with their own money.
in their classroom or on a school project, and $250 Schools don’t have large budgets, especially for items
donated to the charity of their choice. deemed ‘non-essential,’ but we also know that it’s
all these ‘non-essential’ items that sometimes help
“I will use these funds to build and supply my kids students the most,” said former MCCU Financial
with some simple and effective at-home physics Education Coordinator Andrea Tucker.
