BOSTON – State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) and Michael S. Day (D-Stoneham) recently led a legislative briefing highlighting the urgent needs teachers face in supplying their classrooms. The briefing spotlighted Mass Teacher Resources (MTR), a local non-profit that provides free, high quality school supplies to teachers at Title 1 Schools in the Greater Boston area.
“MTR is a wonderful Woburn organization and an important resource that helps alleviate the financial burden many educators face in equipping their students,” said Representative Richard Haggerty. “It was great to join Chairman Day in co-hosting this important briefing. I look forward to continuing my advocacy for teachers and students across the Commonwealth.”
“As prices rise and budgets become tighter, our teachers are under enormous pressure to provide for classroom needs out of their own pockets,” said Representative Michael Day. “Mass Teacher Resources is meeting this challenge by giving educators the supplies they need to create supportive learning environments. In a time of economic strain, their work is making a real difference for teachers, students and families in our communities and I want to make sure we do what we can to support them.”
Founded in 2020, Mass Teacher Resources helps teachers in Greater Boston at economically disadvantaged schools access the resources needed to create welcoming, inclusive and safe learning environments for students. In 2024, Mass Teacher Resources opened the only “teacher free” store in the state. Mass Teacher Resources currently serves over 70 communities and 313 elementary schools. The store is located at 400 West Cummings Park in Woburn, Massachusetts.
On average, teachers spend $750 of their own money each year on classroom supplies. Teachers in higher need schools spend the most. There are more than 1,800 Title I Schools in Massachusetts, a federal designation that indicates that 40% of the student population is low-income. Teachers at these schools face demanding work conditions and students with high needs. They are twice as likely to leave high-needs schools, and nearly half of new teachers leave the profession within five years.
“MTR supports equity in our schools, provides teachers with the supplies they need, and works to keep usable items out of landfills,” said Barry Starr, MTR founder. Reps Mike Day and Rich Haggerty understand the value of our mission and the impact we have on teacher retention and student achievement. We are proud to have them champion our work!”
At the briefing, Maureen Willis, Executive Director of Massachusetts Teacher Resources, and Barry Star, Founder of the organization, emphasized its growing impact. In 2024 alone, the MTR Free Store provided teachers from 70 communities with more than $44,000 worth of classroom materials in just 10 weeks, benefiting over 3,400 students. Volunteers, business partners and donors keep the store running and the shelves stocked. MTR plans to reopen the store in August 2025 for the new school year.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to introduce MTR to our state delegation, said Maureen Willis. As a new organization, this level of awareness will help us connect with the resources we need, the communities we serve, and the teachers we want to support.”
Mass Teacher Resources runs on community support. Because it is a volunteer based non-profit, they rely heavily on donations of supplies or funding from businesses, interest groups and individuals looking to get involved. To join their mission or learn more, visit https://massteacherresources.org.
