Cents in Action: Natalie Bedford

Welcome to our fifth Cents in Action blog post. Every Sunday, we will be featuring an educator who has used our site to raise money for a school or classroom need. Last week, we featured Katie Devivo of Lake Worth Community High School in Lake Worth, Florida. You can check it out here if you missed it.

Meet Natalie Bedford of Spring Creek Elementary in Dallas, Texas. Natalie teaches 3rd grade and loves it! When PledgeCents Co-Founders Andy and Ricky were in Dallas as part of the start-up accelerator Tech Wildcatters, Natalie and her husband welcomed them into their home. They lived there for three months! Not only has Natalie raised $1,541 for study carrels and exercise balls as well as mini iPads, she also spread the word about PledgeCents to other teachers at her school, and they have collectively raised over $3,000 so far!

Natalie was kind enough to share some of her thoughts and experiences regarding teaching and PledgeCents. Here is just some of what she had to say!

How long have you been a teacher, and what is your favorite teaching moment from your career so far?

I have been teaching for six years. My favorite moment is watching a student finally master a skill and getting to see their reaction!

How much of your own money do you think you have put toward your classroom and students in any given year, and what have you spent it on?

I probably spend about $300-500 buying books, supplies, materials for activities, getting my room ready for the new year, and other miscellaneous items.

With so many fundraising options out there, why did you choose to work with the PledgeCents team?

The PledgeCents team is the most flexible. There is no red tape. They are incredibly helpful and work with you when creating and promoting a cause.

What would be your advice to another teacher who is considering using PledgeCents?

My advice would be, “it may seem intimidating to write your own cause or to promote your cause, but you will be pleasantly surprised. It is actually incredibly simple and not a long process.”

What did you personally do to market your cause? What worked? What did not work?

I put my cause on facebook, emailed my school parents, and I verbally spread the word to my family and close friends. I felt that Facebook wasn’t as successful. I think it was too informal and easy to read over. I had the most success spreading the word to people I knew on a deeper level than social media.

If you were one school supply what would you be and why?

I would be a marker because they are bright and fun!

Natalie's students were so thankful for the supplies they were able to purchase that they made an awesome video! Check it out!

Thanks so much to Natalie for sharing her experiences with us, and we wish her the best of luck for this school year!