Teachers approach this week with shopping lists of their own. Some items are obvious: pencils, paper, markers, and notebooks. Others are the materials that turn an empty room into a classroom — storage bins, bulletin-board borders, books, labels, folders, and lots and lots of glue sticks. Then there are the supplies intended for children who arrive without everything they need.
Teachers routinely fill those gaps themselves, one receipt at a time. The PEF Teacher Superstore was created to make that expectation less expensive.
Operated by the Public Education Foundation, the store gives eligible Southern Nevada public school educators access to free and deeply discounted classroom supplies. Teachers can use the materials in their rooms or distribute them directly to students for schoolwork and homework.
A $26 membership donation provides 500 points that can be exchanged for supplies worth up to $500. The price of a trip to an office-supply store can unlock enough materials to serve an entire class.
The inventory is always changing as the program relies on donations and community partnerships. The experience is akin to searching a warehouse for whatever will be most useful. A teacher may find basic supplies, books, classroom décor, or items that would otherwise remain on their wish lists.
The store is especially valuable because classroom spending rarely ends after the first day. A well-stocked room in August can require reinforcements by October.
Eligible educators can shop in person, but they do not necessarily have to spend part of the weekend inside the store. CCSD teachers can place online orders for delivery to their schools, while participating charter school educators can order for pickup. CCSD Purchasing Cards may also be used toward the membership donation.
The wider community can contribute as well. The Public Education Foundation accepts financial and supply donations, allowing businesses and individual donors to help replenish materials that eventually reach classrooms throughout Southern Nevada.
The store does not eliminate the burden that teachers face; however, it does reduce the number of times an educator must choose between leaving a classroom without something useful and paying for it personally.
