Stone Mountain High Teacher Selected as DonorsChoose Teacher Ambassador

When Stone Mountain High School teacher and swim coach Ms. Janelle Alexander-Sumpter needed training equipment for the swim team, she did not know where to turn. She contacted DeKalb County School District’s Director of Grants and Partnerships, Dr. Marcia Oglesby, for guidance, and Dr. Oglesby and her team introduced Ms. Alexander-Sumpter to DonorsChoose.

DonorsChoose is a website that allows teachers to post classroom and school resource requests. Ms. Alexander-Sumpter made her requests and received the items. That was six years ago. Since then, she has requested and received items for her classroom, and now she is encouraging other teachers to take advantage of DonorsChoose as a DonorsChoose Teacher Ambassador.

In August, Ms. Alexander-Sumpter was selected to join the 2025-2026 Teacher Ambassador Cohort for DonorsChoose at Stone Mountain High School. Teacher Ambassadors support their school’s educators in accessing classroom funding opportunities and joining a cohort of ambassadors from across the country who are fired up to ensure that public school teachers aren’t paying out of pocket for the materials their students need.

“I want to help other teachers see that you don’t always have to go without or come out of your own pocket all the time for small things,” said Ms. Alexander-Sumpter. “Had it not been for DonorsChoose, I would not have the items for my students and athletes.

Becoming a DonorsChoose Teacher Ambassador is something Ms. Alexander-Sumpter has wanted for a while.

“I tried several years ago to become an ambassador because either their applications were full or they were not taking applications at the time,” she said. “One day, I got an email from them asking to be part of their 2025-2026 cohort, and I said absolutely.”

Ms. Alexander-Sumpter has worked at Stone Mountain High for 20 years and is a MOID (Moderate Intellectual Disability) teacher. She said DonorsChoose has been a blessing in disguise for her and other teachers. Through DonorsChoose, she has received bean bags, a rug, desk lights, flexible seating, sensory items, and snacks.

“The snacks were unexpected but essential,” said Ms. Alexander-Sumpter. “Students get hungry in between classes and need something to tide them over until lunch. The snacks have been tremendously helpful.”

Ms. Alexander-Sumpter also received kick boards, pool buoys, fins, goggles, and more for her swim team.

“We couldn’t start the swim program without those items,” she said. “DonorsChoose helped us get on an equal playing field with other schools. Other schools have a PTA that can help them out. For us, it’s whatever we can get, and DonorsChoose has been great in that area.”

Valerie Franklin, an 11th-grade student and Stone Mountain High swim team member, is also grateful for the items.

“They help with our muscle and leg strength and make us faster in the pool,” said Valerie. “Overall, it has helped our swimming experience be a lot better because without them, we wouldn’t be able to train properly.”

“The googles and swimming trunks have been helpful for swimmers who can’t buy swim trunks,” said Tristan Cohen, another junior swimmer.

While Ms. Alexander-Sumpter is thankful and appreciative of DonorsChoose, she is more grateful to Dr. Olgesby and her team for introducing her to DonorsChoose.

“Dr. Oglesby is the best thing that has happened to me. Before I met her, I couldn’t figure out how to get items for my team,” she said. “She told me about some grants I can apply for and walked me through every step of every grant I’ve applied for. She and her office are always a call away.”

For more information on DonorsChoose, visit www.donorschoose.org.

Click here to view the video interview.