Great Teachers
Shouldn't Have
to Choose.
High-performing teachers leave at-risk schools every year — not because they stop caring, but because the system makes it impossible to stay. StaminaEd closes that gap with stipends, supplies, and real support so the teachers who matter most can remain where they're needed most.
The Numbers Behind the Mission
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, Urban Institute
The Crisis
The Schools That Need the Best Teachers Are Losing Them.
High-poverty elementary schools face annual teacher turnover rates of 15–30% — nearly double those of more advantaged schools. In many urban districts, up to half of all teachers who start in high-need schools have left within five years.
The reasons are well-documented: lower compensation, fewer resources, more challenging working conditions, and a lack of the mentorship and support structures that help teachers grow. It's not a talent problem — it's a retention problem.
Research from RAND, Brookings, and the Urban Institute consistently shows that targeted financial incentives, strong mentoring, and improved working conditions are the most effective levers for keeping great teachers in high-need classrooms. StaminaEd is built on that evidence.
Sources: NCES, RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, Urban Institute
How It Works
A Simple Model. A Lasting Impact.
Identify Exceptional Teachers
We partner with school administrators and community leaders to identify high-performing teachers in underserved schools who are at risk of leaving — those whose students consistently outperform expectations despite limited resources. Research shows early-career teachers and teachers of color are disproportionately represented among departures in high-need settings.
Provide Stipends & Supplies
Supported teachers receive monthly financial stipends that close the compensation gap, plus a dedicated supply budget so they never have to spend their own money on classroom materials again. Studies consistently show that targeted financial incentives are among the most effective tools for improving retention in high-poverty schools.
Students Thrive
When great teachers stay, students benefit from continuity, mentorship, and the kind of high-expectation teaching that changes trajectories. High teacher turnover disrupts learning, erodes trust, and disproportionately harms students who can least afford the setback. Stability is the intervention.
Teacher Stories
The Teachers Who Chose to Stay.
Read all stories
“I had an offer at a private school — better pay, smaller classes. But my kids here needed me. The stipend made it possible to say no to that offer and yes to them.”
“My students are just as capable as any student in a wealthy district. They just need someone who believes that and sticks around long enough to prove it.”
The day I got my first StaminaEd stipend, I cried. Not because of the money — because someone finally said my work here matters.— Ms. Denise Carter, 3rd Grade Math, Chicago
Choose Your Impact
Covers a full semester of classroom supplies — the materials a teacher would otherwise buy out of pocket, every single year.
Give $50/moProvides a partial monthly stipend that begins to close the pay gap driving teachers out of high-need schools. Research shows financial incentives are among the most effective retention tools.
Give $100/moFully funds one teacher's monthly stipend plus supplies — a complete support package that makes staying a real, sustainable choice.
Give $250/moStaminaEd is a registered 501(c)(3). All donations are tax-deductible.