Strengthen DPS teachers: Building what's possible for Durham's public schools
- stephanie15564
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Throughout our “Together, We Build What’s Possible” campaign, we’re celebrating what’s possible when our community comes together for Durham’s public schools. Here we're spotlighting the core of our public school ecosystem —our teachers.
The DPS Foundation empowers and connects teachers through our grants program and, since January, has been providing them with free, essential school supplies through our Crayons2Calculators (C2C) program.
“(Thank you) for … providing us with the resources that will empower us as teachers and to make our classroom better and to help us make a difference for all the students that we will serve,” one new DPS teacher shared with us at this year’s new DPS teacher orientation.
Because of our supporters, we’re helping DPS teachers annually save up to $419 per person, according to a 2025 C2C survey. And so far this school year alone, we have awarded $62,000+ worth of school supplies — setting us up already to outpace the $129,113 worth of supplies distributed in 2024-25. That’s because of you — our community and donors — and your belief that every DPS teacher should have the tools they need to succeed.
Before joining us in January, C2C served as a long-standing Durham nonprofit dedicated to supporting DPS teachers. With their team and work now under the DPSF umbrella, our support for teachers has grown even stronger.
Students’ transformation into tomorrow’s leaders starts in the classroom — and the teachers who guide them. Teachers lend a hand, an ear, and a shoulder to our students every day. They are the smile that greets them in the morning. They are the voice that advocates for them inside and outside the school walls. Without our educators, the very fabric of our public schools would unravel.
We are extremely proud to empower these essential members of our public school community. Your gift today will allow us to keep strengthening our teachers and our entire ecosystem in 2026 and beyond.