California woman donates $1 million to 100 public school teachers, bringing focus to plight of educators in one of America’s wealthiest counties

A California woman has donated $1 million to 100 public school teachers, giving each educator a surprise check of $9,161.70 amid concerns over low teacher pay and school funding. Maja Kristin made the donation to teachers in the Ross Valley School District, where educators face the added challenge of working in one of the most expensive areas of the US.

The teachers received the unexpected checks on August 13 after being called to a meeting without being told why they were there. Envelopes containing the payments were handed out at the meeting, prompting cheers and emotional reactions from the educators.

Kristin said she wanted to show that members of the community could directly support public school teachers. Rather than making a general contribution to the school district, she chose to give the money directly to educators.


For some teachers, the unexpected payment could make an immediate difference. Teacher Sydney Dean described the gift as “life-changing,” while Amber Bunnell-Wild said she had never received such a meaningful gift from someone she did not know or whose child she had not taught.

The donation comes as the Ross Valley School District faces concerns over teacher compensation and per-student funding. According to the district, Ross Valley receives about $11,771 per student, compared with a California average of $14,494. The district says this places it among the bottom 4% of California school districts in per-pupil funding.

The funding gap is particularly striking because Ross Valley is located in Marin County, one of the wealthiest areas in the United States. The region has high property values and a high cost of living, creating additional pressure on teachers who live and work there.

The district has also said its teachers are among the lowest paid in Marin County. Low salaries can make it harder to recruit and retain educators in an area where housing and other living expenses are high.

California's Proposition 13 is one factor in the state's school funding system. The law limits the base property tax rate to 1% of assessed value and restricts increases in assessed property values. As a result, properties that have not changed hands for many years can have assessed values far below their current market prices.

Ross Valley officials have pointed to low housing turnover in communities such as San Anselmo and Fairfax as another factor limiting the district's property tax base. The district has therefore relied on locally approved revenue, including a parcel tax, to help fund schools and maintain staffing and programs.

The $9,161.70 payments offered teachers a significant one-time financial boost. Anna Schnell, a teacher with three children, said the money would allow her family to pay for activities for her children that she could not always afford on her salary.

Teacher Eric Brandt said the donation showed that people in the community wanted to support public education and educators.

While the $1 million donation does not solve Ross Valley's broader funding challenges, it has drawn attention to the financial pressures facing teachers in an affluent community. Kristin said she hoped the gesture would encourage other Marin County residents who value public education to support teachers through donations, political action or foundations.

For the 100 teachers who received the checks, however, the impact is more immediate: an unexpected financial boost at a time when the cost of living continues to put pressure on educators and their families.