Thank a Teacher This Holiday Season
Remember the teacher who changed your life?
The one who stayed late. Who believed in you when you didn't believe in yourself. Who refused to let you settle for less than your potential.
Now imagine that teacher leaving the profession.
The Crisis We're Facing
Across Chicago, we're losing our best teachers—not because they've stopped caring about students, but because they feel unsupported, undervalued, and stuck in their classrooms with no pathway to lead.
The teachers our students need most are walking away.
Unless we act.
What TST Does Differently
Teachers Supporting Teachers empowers educators to become leaders who transform entire schools.
Through year-long coaching and leadership development, we help excellent teachers expand their impact from one classroom to an entire school community. Instead of working in isolation, they lead Impact Teams that drive school-wide improvement and build the sustainable systems our students desperately need.
This isn't another one-year program that fades when we leave.
We develop teacher leaders who stay, grow, and mentor others—creating a ripple effect that touches hundreds of students, year after year.
The Results Are Undeniable
This year, we're supporting:
38 teacher leaders across Chicago
170+ educators on Impact Teams
12,000+ students (85% living below poverty, 95% students of color)
And it's working:
92% of our teacher leaders plan to return to their schools (far above citywide averages)
97% of Impact Teams outperformed their school-wide averages on measures of collaboration and school culture
Our model compounds: Teachers we develop today become the coaches and mentors of tomorrow
Your Investment Multiplies
When you give to TST, you're not just supporting one teacher in one classroom.
You're investing in:
A teacher leader who strengthens an entire team of educators
Sustainable systems that last beyond a single school year
Better outcomes for hundreds of students—this year and every year to come
Your gift today compounds tomorrow.
What Educators Are Saying
Teacher Leader: "TST has supported my ability to reflect on what I am doing with my teams. I appreciate the opportunity to think about how I'm impacting the team and school as a whole."
Principal, Monarcas: "The TST program has provided me with tools to engage my teacher leaders in more opportunities to learn and feel empowered to take on leadership roles."
Assistant Principal, Beethoven Elementary: "TST has helped give my teacher leader a more global perspective and challenged her to think about how things impact the greater school community and not only her classroom."
Impact Team Member, Northwest Middle: "I enjoy working at my school and being on this team has given me the opportunity to improve the school. I feel like I am making an impact."
Where Your Money Goes
Every dollar you give goes directly to supporting schools and teachers:
$50 provides materials for Impact Team meetings
$150 supports a teacher through a month of leadership coaching
$500 funds a full semester of professional development
$1,000 enables year-long support for a teacher leader and their entire team
Your donation funds:
1:1 coaching from experienced educators
Monthly professional development on leadership and strategic planning
Student academic supplies and school resources
Building sustainable pathways for excellent teachers to impact more students
Honor a Teacher. Transform a School.
This holiday season, honor the teachers who made a difference in your life by ensuring today's students have access to equally excellent, empowered educators.
All students deserve great teachers.
All teachers deserve to be supported as leaders.
Your gift makes both possible.
Teachers Supporting Teachers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Questions? Contact Andy Rhodes at arhodes@supportingteachers.org