More than 150 teachers in Auburn School District received classroom tools and resources they needed thanks to a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Through $10 DonorsChoose.org gift cards distributed at Starbucks stores throughout the county last fall, community members and the Gates Foundation funded these classroom projects — ranging from basic school supplies to books to digital technology. More than 20,875 students will benefit from these new educational resources.

“Teachers have one of the most difficult and important jobs in the world,” said David Bley, director of the Gates Foundation’s Pacific Northwest work. “We support teachers so they have what they need to ensure all students are learning and continue their education beyond high school, so they can find a job to support themselves and their families.”

Most of the DonorsChoose.org gift cards were applied to projects within the Road Map Project, a civic initiative aimed at driving major improvements in education results in the low-income communities of South Seattle and South King County. The Road Map Project’s goal is to double the number of students in that region who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020.

“I want to thank the people of King County for their generosity to help support teachers in our region,” said Mary Jean Ryan, executive director of the Community Center for Education Results, the organization that staffs the Road Map Project. “These dollars will go to schools in communities where the need is greatest and help prepare students to compete in an increasingly skilled workforce.”