Wednesday, August 19, 2026
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on August 14, 2025
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice According to data on the Currituck Education Foundation Facebook page, North Carolina teachers are expected to spend an average of $1,632 of their own money for school supplies in 2025, the second highest level of out-of-pocket teacher spending in the country.
Starting on August 18, those numbers may change in Currituck County, with the Aug. 18 grand opening of the Teacher Supply Store, which will take the form of a trailer located at the Currituck Middle School. Currituck County schools begin the 2025-2026 year on Aug. 25.
The impetus to offer free school supplies to teachers moved forward when Currituck education officials visited a similar store in Chesapeake and brought their ideas back to the non-profit Currituck County Education, said Melissa Harrison, a member of the Currituck County Board of Education and vice-chair of the Currituck Education Foundation.
The Foundation explained the reason for the initiative by stating that, “Just as gardens thrive with care and nourishment, classrooms flourish when teachers have the tools they need. However, many educators today face the challenge of limited budgets and often purchase classroom essentials out of their own pockets. At the Currituck Education Foundation, we believe that our teachers should never have to choose between financial strain and providing for their students. This is where the brand new Teacher Supply Store comes in.”
According to Harrison, the Teacher Supply Store will be staffed by members of the Currituck Education Foundation, and it will be open every other Thursday and on Teacher Workdays. “It will have a wide variety of things that teachers need that they normally spend their own money on,” said Harrison. That includes everything from notepads and children’s books to Clorox wipes and glue sticks.
Thanking the community for its support, Harrison said the Foundation has raised about $2,600 to date to support the effort. She says the program doesn’t rely on one particular supplier for the school products but acknowledges that “We’re just trying find the cheapest prices we can.”
In a recent Facebook post, the Foundation, which has been running a school supplies donation drive, said the Store particularly needs children’s books and office organizing supplies such as bins, folders and desk organizers.
It also stated that monetary donations can be made at https://www.currituckeducationfoundation.org/donors.html through PayPal by including “Teacher Supply Store” on the second page under Add Special Instructions to CEF.
The Foundation also has an Amazon wish list where donors can have items sent directly to them: CORRECTED AMAZON WISH LIST LINK.
Comments
Laura Spencer
Teachers spend second highest amount on supplies in USA. What is unstated is NC teacher pay is ranked eighth from bottom in USA.
BosunNirvana
The Amazon wish list link didn’t work.
Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
Checking it out.
We’ll post a new link.
Mary
Thank you Currituck Education Foundation and Melissa! As a retired Currituck teacher, I can honestly say that many teachers spend an enormous amount of money on supplies for their students. It’s just what they do because they care and want the best for their students.
Melissa, you are a fine example of the type of young person educators need leading Currituck Schools both with your position on the School Board and with the Currituck Education Foundation. Keep up the support for your educators and the children of Currituck Schools!