Walmart surprises NJ teacher with free school supplies

WOODBURY, N.J. (WPVI) -- A New Jersey high school teacher got a surprise that nearly brought her to tears when she set out for some back-to-school shopping on Thursday.

Employees of the Woodbury Walmart gave Megan Spoltore an unexpected standing ovation when she walked in.

The English teacher thought she was going to spend her own money on supplies for her classroom at Camelot Camden Transitional Academy.

But she was shocked to receive a gift card worth $513 - the average amount, according to research, that a teacher spends out-of-pocket on supplies each year.

Spoltore is a mother of two who already has to buy items for her own children.

She says this money will go a long way for her family and her students.

"These kids have no school supplies, they come in with nothing. These kids don't even, a lot of times, have pencils at home and pens and paper just to even do anything. So I, we provide everything for them, so this is incredible," she said.

Walmart also provided Spoltore with a new iPad mini.