by SARAH LIEU

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS, WVAH) — It’s hard to believe many kids soon will be heading back to school in our area.

For teachers, that means the annual challenge of making sure they have what they need for the classroom.

The Adopt-A-Teacher program helps fill that need.

Sponsors can “adopt” a teacher, agreeing to buy as many items on the list as possible.

For Theresa Holt, it is a big help to make sure her special education students succeed in class.

“I also work with . . . functional skills with my kids, like brushing your teeth, brushing your hair, making sure your fingers are clean and those things,” Holt said. “So, we were brushing our teeth and she said, ‘Do you guys need tooth brushes?’ so she went out and got some toothbrushes as well. So, she made sure I had things throughout the year that I needed so my kids were doing things appropriately and correctly.”

Holt teaches at Mary Ingles Elementary School in Kanawha County.

The Adopt-A-Teacher program is now operating in nine West Virginia counties. Registration for sponsors ends Friday, Aug. 9, or when everyone has been adopted – whichever comes first.

For more information on the Adopt-A-Teacher program, you can go to its Facebook page.