PHONE PUSDEF @ 928.445.5400
By Abigail Celaya
Originally Published: July 15, 2025
The Daily Courier
The Prescott Education Foundation’s Teacher’s Supply Closet at Prescott High School is getting ready to re-open its doors for the upcoming school year.
Tucked away into a portable classroom on Prescott High School’s campus, the closet is stocked with items donated by members of the community and purchased by the foundation. Events like stuff the bus, put on by the Highland Church, make stocking the closet possible.
The supply closet is open to all teachers who teach at the district. There are two dates a month when the supply closet is open for shopping, but the foundation is hoping to include a third.
The supply closet has everything teachers could want from classroom materials ranging from markers, whiteout and pens, to children’s books, cleaning/hygiene supplies, classroom decorations and learning materials.
In addition to teacher’s needs, the supply closet offers clothing for children. Hats, new shoes and clothes are available. Teachers who identify a student who may be in need of clothing assistance can contact Judy Stencel, the special populations coordinator who will arrange for the student to come down to the closet.
Paul Kirchgraber is the executive director for the PUSD Education Foundation. He said they don’t want teachers to have to go to Walmart and spend money out of their own pockets. While teachers are given $100 at the beginning of the year to spend on their classroom, the money doesn’t stretch far these days.
“It’s amazing how the community supports this. Most people know a teacher and they know the story about teachers spending money on their own.”
Kirchgraber loves when teachers come into the closet and start brainstorming what they can use some of the materials for.
The foundation also supports the PUSD program, Shop with an Arizona Ranger program. They will supply $100 gift cards to Walmart. Starting at the beginning of the school year the district will identify students who may need new items and pair them with an Arizona Ranger to go shopping.
“It has happened so many times where the Arizona ranger will get to the checkout and the amount of the purchases exceeds the gift card,” Kirchgraber said. “What do you think the Arizona ranger does? He or she pulls out their credit card. We say let us reimburse you and they don’t. That’s the kind of community that is really supportive of what we do.”
The foundation emerged in 2015 because of frustration over the lack of funding for public school districts in Arizona. PUSD faced difficulties passing bond and override requests in 2013, which prompted concerned parents and community members to take action. The foundation was created as a result, with the goal of bridging the funding gap and enhancing educational opportunities for PUSD.
Along with the teacher supply closet, the foundation also provides scholarships to Prescott High School seniors and provides grants to pay for school site projects. It also recognizes teachers and students through programs such as Rising Stars.
In fiscal year 2025, the foundation was awarded $147,000 in funding for PUSD including support for math teacher recruitment and retention, new classroom furniture for Mile High Middle School, classroom supplies for teachers and for professional development.
In August, they will be recognized by the Arizona Community Foundation at The Joy of Giving.
To learn more about the PUSD Education Foundation and the teachers supply closet visit https://pusdeducationfoundation.com/.
By Abigail Celaya – The Daily Courier
Originally Published: July 15, 2025