Teaching Tools Serving Teachers

• More than 95,000 (48%) students in Hillsborough County cannot afford lunch daily, much less school supplies and other tools necessary for learning.
• As a result, teachers spend an average of $1,000 out-of-pocket each year to help provide for their classroom and students.

Teachers face the challenge of not having all the tools necessary in the classroom. Teaching Tools mission is to ensure students and classrooms in Hillsborough County have the basic tools for learning by transferring, at no cost, our community's surplus supplies and merchandise into the hands of teachers and school children in need.

As a conduit to fill the gap that exists between the students in need and the amount of supplies in the schools, Teaching Tools works to propel future generations of leaders for our community. As Marva Collins said, “There is a brilliant child locked inside every student.”

Teaching Tools currently serves 87 of the highest need Title-I schools and instructional sites throughout the district, which relays to more than 1,800 teachers who are eligible to shop monthly and 50,000 at-risk students receiving school supplies annually.

Teachers are eligible to shop through three avenues:

Full-Service Shopper Program

Each full-time teacher at eligible Title-I schools can shop for free supplies once per month during shopping hours. The average monthly shopping trip is valued at $250!

One Representative Shopper Program

Eligible Title-I schools that are part of this category have one representative who shops for the entire school. Since the representative is shopping for the entire school, they are eligible for four times the amount of an average shopping trip, which means they often leave with up to $1,000 worth of supplies each month! To learn who the representative is for your school, please call (813) 740-7651.

Volunteer to Shop Program

Any full-time public school teacher who works for a one-rep school or for a school Teaching Tools does not currently serve can volunteer for three hours per month to earn a shopping coupon! To sign up to volunteer, please call (813) 740-7651.

Shopping Hours

• Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3-6:30 pm (|ast teacher admitted at 6 pm)
• Second Saturday of each month from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (teachers must check-in no later than 11:30 am)

*Teachers must be on the roster list we receive from their school and bring their teacher ID each month for entrance into the store.
*Shopping hours change during the summer months (May-July).

For directions to Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools please click here.
Phone: (813) 740-7651
Fax: (813) 740-7654

On an average shopping day, each teacher will leave with $250 worth of free product to take back into the classroom. We encourage teachers to take advantage of this resource. The store is open year round so you can save thousands of dollars each year by coming to visit Teaching Tools! The type of product you will receive at the store ranges from the basics, such as pencils, pens, crayons, markers, glue and colored pencils to paper, folders, backpacks, personal care items, new and used books, incentive items and arts and crafts. In addition, teachers can choose from items such as binders, deskware and stationery, which are surplus from businesses in the community.

Shirley Redcay from Cahoon Elementary shared a story about how the store makes a difference for her and the students. Cahoon has many foster children enrolled at the school; when these children enroll, they often do not have any school supplies. Through the resources available at Teaching Tools, the children are able to pick out their very own backpack and basic supplies. This makes the first day at a new school much easier. It also allows the teacher to have positive time with the student, which helps to build rapport that is essential to the child’s educational success. The gift of supplies provides a child the good start emotionally and promotes academic achievement. Shirley and the other teachers at Cahoon truly appreciate what Teaching Tools does for their school.

Teaching Tools would not exist without the generosity of the Tampa Bay community. Through Teaching Tools, everyone has the opportunity to positively impact the life of a local student in need. In order for us to continue providing learning resources, we rely on the kindness of the community for both financial and in-kind support. We are proud that 90% of each dollar donated goes directly back into the program. To learn more about product or financial donations, or sponsorship please call Teaching Tools at (813) 740-7651.

“Thank you so much for supplying our students with so many needed items. Everything I have received from your store enriches lessons so well and adds meaning to the dynamic projects to enhance student learning. We appreciate your efforts. Thank you for making this wonderful impact on our youth!”
Jenni Martin, Teacher at Palm River Elementary

We want to hear from you! Please e-mail us with the most requested items for the classroom, what the Teacher's Supply Store means to you, how the product helps or other thoughts.

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