WindSwell Foundation and FWCS leadership with some FWCS Special Education teachers.
Fort Wayne, IN – WindSwell Foundation gave a total of $342,300 to 1,141 special education teachers across 46 public school districts and cooperatives in Northeast Indiana. Each teacher received a $300 gift card to purchase needed materials for their classrooms.
With cuts in education funding and a shortage of special education teachers in the state, WindSwell Foundation saw an opportunity to give back to the educators who give so much to their students. Research shows that around 90% of teachers spend out of their own pockets for their classrooms. On average, the teachers spend between $500 to $750 each year, some spending even more.
“Special education teachers work hard to support their students’ education, many going above and beyond to meet each unique need,” says WindSwell Foundation Chief Program Officer Dr. Joni Schmalzried. “This is our small effort to show our appreciation for the value they bring to the lives of students with disabilities.”
Each teacher, in addition to the gift card, will receive a letter and a list of resources available to them through WindSwell Foundation. To help the WindSwell Foundation staff prepare these gifts, students from the Fort Wayne Community Schools Young Adult Transition (YAT) program assembled each of the 1,141 envelopes. The YAT program supports young adults, ages 18 – 22, with disabilities as they bridge the gap between high school and adult independence.
The gift cards will be distributed through administration at each district starting Monday, November 2. A complete list of the districts and cooperatives included follow this press release.
Appendix: Participating School Districts and Special Education Cooperatives
- Adams Central Community Schools
- Bluffton-Harrison Schools
- Bremen Public Schools
- Central Noble Community Schools
- Concord Community Schools
- DeKalb Central Schools
- DeKalb Eastern Schools
- East Allen County Schools
- East Noble School Corporation
- Eastbrook Community Schools
- Fairfield Community Schools
- Fort Wayne Community Schools
- Fremont Community Schools
- Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community Schools
- Grant County Special Education Cooperative
- Hamilton Community Schools
- Huntington County Community Schools
- Lakeland School Corporation
- Madison-Grant United School Corporation
- Manchester Community Schools
- Marion Community Schools
- Mississinewa Community Schools
- MSD of Steuben County
- MSD of Wabash County
- Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative
- North Adams Community Schools
- North Miami Community Schools
- Northern Wells Community Schools
- Northwest Allen County Schools
- Oak Hill United School Corporation
- Peru Community Schools
- Prairie Heights Community School Corporation
- Rochester Community Schools
- Smith-Green Community Schools
- South Adams Schools
- Southern Wells Community Schools
- Southwest Allen County Schools
- Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation
- Wabash City Schools
- Wa-Nee Community Schools
- Warsaw Community Schools
- Wawasee Community School Corporation
- West Noble School Corporation
- Westview School Corporation
- Whitko Community School Corporation
- Whitley County Consolidated Schools
