“Growing up, I was privileged enough to have many amazing teachers, and am truly grateful for every one of them and how they shaped me into the person I am today. If I had to choose one teacher who had the biggest impact on who I am today, it would be my elementary art teacher, Ms. Lynn. Growing up, I thought I was just naturally bad at art and more of a STEM person, but she showed me that if I tried different techniques and mediums, I could find what fit me. I carry this growth mindset throughout my life, even beyond art.”
Million Dollar Teacher Tree was first developed in a classroom by students in a program called, Next Generation Service Corps at Arizona State University in December of 2017. These students were tasked by Lloyd Hopkins, founder of Million Dollar Teacher project with developing a project that can potentially become an integral part in helping MDTP achieve its mission. The group eventually developed the original prototype for Million Dollar Teacher Tree—a cutout dollar sign that would be placed in surrounding businesses near the partner school. The idea was pitched to staff members of MDTP during the last of their class, and the project was picked up by MDTP as a new pilot program for the organization. After many months of planning, the prototype was eventually revamped into what it is today, Million Dollar Teacher Tree.
These apples are intended to provide any sort of Professional Development which, in turn, gifts them with key knowledge to add to their personal skill-set to better work with their students.
As educators, teachers are constantly looking to continually grow in their profession to not only learn how to better connect with their students, but to also make the learning experience much more exciting.
Suggested donation amount range: $10 – $100
These apples are designed to provide the typical day-to-day items in the classroom. Teachers spend can spend upwards of $1,000 out of pocket to have enough supplies yearlong for their students– to alleviate this, the Red Apples were created.
Everyday school supplies include; pencils, notebooks, crayons, hand sanitizer, etc.
These apples are intended to provide a big-ticket item for the teachers. These supplies are typically something that the teachers can use for more than one school year.
Examples include; a class-set of computers or new furniture for the classroom.
Suggested donation amount: $500+
