Retired Teachers Stock First Classroom Supply Closet at Jackson State
A new resource center in Mississippi provides essential classroom materials to education students before they begin their paid teaching careers.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
Jackson State University launched the state's first Aspiring Educators Resource Closet on Monday. Located within the College of Education and Human Development, the space is a partnership between the university and the Mississippi Association of Educators-Retired. The shelves are stocked with everyday classroom items, including calculators, rulers, staplers, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue, paper clips, Play-Doh, sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes. The closet also holds clipboards, dry erase markers, headphones, a tea kettle, coffee, and water.
Teanna Howard, a JSU senior and president of the Student Education Association, said the closet helps reduce the financial burden on new teachers. Howard, who will graduate in May 2027, noted that entering the profession requires gathering a long list of materials. She explained that having these supplies available ensures students have what they need to be successful.
Jasmine Cleark, the governance and public relations lead for the Mississippi Association of Educators, stated that graduating education students can select supplies from the closet. Each college's student members set the criteria for eligibility, which may include attending specific organization events or logging community service hours. Cleark described the arrangement as a reciprocal effort where retired educators provide materials while students contribute to their communities.
Members of the retired educators' group decided this year to open closets across the state. Jackson State won a vote at the group's retirement conference to host the first closet at a college or university. Cleark said the retired teachers understand the financial challenges of creating a welcoming classroom without sufficient funds. She noted that many teachers are paid monthly but still need to cover daily classroom costs.
Cleark pointed out that Mississippi does not currently offer paid student teaching. She said 12 states provide paid student teaching or some type of stipend. Even after being hired, new teachers often wait until their first paycheck, making small items like a $2 stapler important during that interim period. The association plans to continue advocating for paid student teaching in Mississippi.
Howard said small supplies add up quickly over a school year. Having materials on hand allows teachers to focus on their lessons without worrying about missing items. The closet also serves as a reminder of her own teachers, many of whom have retired. She described the space as a way to continue the foundation they laid.
Anyone can donate to the Mississippi Association of Educators to help stock the closet. Retiring teachers can also return lightly used or extra classroom materials, such as borders and decorations. The association will use collection boxes to keep these items out of landfills. For donation information, the phone number is (601) 354-4463. The association will hold a meeting in summer 2027 to decide which university receives the next closet.
