Local Teacher from Portland Receives Help from Today Show

According to WILX-TV 10, budget cuts and rising costs have left many schools in Michigan struggling to buy supplies leaving teachers with the bills.

NBC's Today Show recently stepped in to help out Portland Middle School English teacher Amanda Cornwell in purchasing school and classroom supplies.

On the August 23 Today episode, the show announced it would pay for this year's supplies.  Along with giving Cornwell a new outfit, all 150 of her students received a gift card for clothes and school supply shopping.

Cuts in education has left little money for teachers to create a classroom environment welcoming to kids.

Teachers spend an average of $500 per year on classroom supplies.  Many resort to asking parents to help stock the classrooms with things like wet wipes and Kleenex.