As the back-to-school season enters its second week for most schools, One teacher express how she used Goodwill of North Georgia as an affordable alternative for decorating her classroom with unique items.

Tyisha Woodock, an 8th-grade teacher in Cobb County, explains, “All classrooms come with the basics, such as desks for students and bookshelves. What I find at Goodwill are the personal touches that make a classroom a welcoming place for students without breaking the bank.”

As a middle school teacher who aims to maintain a fresh and unique classroom environment, Tyisha purchases various one-of-a-kind items from Goodwill, such as storage containers, organizing baskets, and furniture.

“One of my favorite finds at Goodwill was a small couch that fit perfectly in my classroom. Students love to sit on it to read or do their work. The couch allows them to relax and chat with their friends in a comfortable place,” Tyisha added.

“My most recent purchase, is a really cool lamp I found while shopping at the Kennesaw Goodwill on Cobb Parkway. It’s a cut little lamp that will add some uniqueness to my classroom.”

The lamp is currently stationed in Tyisha’s classroom.

In addition to Goodwill’s furniture, Tyisha also uses Goodwill’s extensive selection of books to keep her classroom library stocked with a variety of genres for her students to read and discover.

“Each Goodwill store essentially has its own library,” she said. “Picking books that will resonate with my students feels like treasure hunting, as I’m excited to offer them a wide variety of reading material at such a low cost.”

Tyisha not only takes advantage of Goodwill’s budget-friendly prices to adorn her classroom, but she also deeply values the organization’s mission to put people to work and its dedication to environmental sustainability.

“Shopping at Goodwill comes with quite a few perks that I greatly appreciate,” Tyeisha says. “The fact that my purchases help people to find jobs is a big bonus. I can’t think of other retailers that make such a positive impact on both a large and small scale. As a mother whose son just got accepted into UGA, I recognize that college isn’t for everyone. I appreciate Goodwill for providing high school graduates with alternatives to college, such as their welding and forklift programs.”

In the fiscal year 2024, Goodwill of North Georgia connected more than 21,595 people to new jobs and diverted more than 42,000,000 pounds of items from landfills through salvage and recycling initiatives in FY23.

“I think more teachers should consider using Goodwill for their classroom needs,” Tyisha says. “Besides being affordable, the options differ depending on the store, which adds an endless level of uniqueness to each shopping experience. I look forward to how my students resonate with what I’ve selected from Goodwill for my classroom this year.”