Alison Kling

Megan: [00:00:00] So, super excited to be joined here with Alison Kling. This has to be a first—where we have a backdrop of lots of Crayola crayons. Yep. The smell is bringing me back to my elementary school days, which I just love. We’re so excited to be here on location at Free 2 Teach in North Alabama, helping teachers with free school supplies.

And we’re going to learn a little more about that in just a second. But Alison and I were just talking about how she has been heavily involved in promoting this organization over the past couple of months—years, for that matter—and it has just exploded under your leadership, which is so exciting.

Before we dive into that, I want to welcome you to SheBoss.

Alison: Thank you! It’s great to be here. I’m excited that you’re here—so excited—and would love to start kind of from the beginning. I know you’re a lifelong educator and have been involved in this industry for a long time, but just give us a little bit of background.

Megan: [00:01:00]

Alison: Yeah, so I grew up on the West Coast in Canada and the U.S., and I moved a lot. From an early age, I really loved getting to know new people. I loved making friends in new places. I loved exploring. My family was just excited about adventure, and that was a big part of my childhood. We lived on remote islands and would go kayaking for PE—it was never a dull moment.

In college—or right before college—I went overseas and worked in a refugee camp. I spent time learning, growing, and understanding the diverse ways you can impact people’s lives by coming alongside them in what they’re already doing and who they already are. That really shaped my college experience and the opportunities I pursued. I developed a deep sense of purpose and joy in service, which I now love bringing others into.

I served on boards in my 20s, traveled a lot to East Africa, and joined Teach For America—a teaching program where they train you right after college, then place you directly into a classroom with ongoing support. That was a pivotal moment for me. I experienced the daily work of building a classroom community and engaging with children and families who deeply value education.

When I taught in Brooklyn and lived on the Upper East Side, I’d get on the train at 5:45 AM every morning and got to know everyone in my train car—some of them even came to my wedding. It really showed me the honor of engaging in and becoming part of a community.

Megan: That’s incredible. So I wanted to ask you about your experience in refugee camps—that’s not something that just happens by accident. I imagine your parents may have influenced you, maybe through church or servant leadership?

Alison: Yeah, faith was a huge part of it. No matter where you are, people need to be loved, heard, and accepted. But I think the moment that really changed things for me was when I was working at Bootlegger—a Canadian version of Gap. I begged my parents for a job because I wanted cool clothes and independence. One day, while on break, I read an article in the staff room about women in refugee camps who pay back their microfinance loans much faster than men and are incredibly strong entrepreneurs.

That fascinated me. I started researching why that was, and it’s often because women flee on their own with their children and have to survive. I learned about refugee camps and organizations doing work in Northern Kenya during a time of conflict with South Sudan. I went there to support education and came alongside people who were already committed long-term to the South Sudanese people. It was a wild and incredibly formative experience—especially before college.

Megan: Wow. That must have given you such perspective during college.

Alison: Absolutely. When you’ve seen people living in statelessness, not having a home—it makes things like a bad grade or a breakup seem smaller, even though those things are still important. That experience gave me a sense that I needed to work hard in college—it was a privilege to be there.

Megan: How did your parents react when you told them you were going to Kenya?

Alison: They were a little nervous, but adventure was such a part of our family culture. I credit them a lot for that. When we lived on the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii), it was normal to offer strangers rides. I think my mom was probably more nervous about my move to New York City with Teach For America than the Kenya trip!

Megan: So after that experience, did you go straight into teaching?

Alison: Yes. After college, I joined Teach For America and was placed in a second-grade classroom. I taught third grade for three years after that. It was all about learning to build trust, manage the classroom environment, and then actually teach and keep the students engaged.

It was such a powerful experience. I truly believe if you can manage a classroom, you can do anything. Teachers are the most important leaders in our communities—they cultivate a love of learning for 10 hours a day, which is a huge responsibility.

That’s also what drives the heart of Free 2 Teach. Eula, our co-founder, and I both had a deep understanding of what goes into building a classroom every day. That foundation has carried through everything we do here.

Megan: I can only imagine. That’s a lot of work. I mean, I have three kids—let alone having 20 at once for that extended period.

Alison: And you don’t know what kind of morning those kids have had. Some come in dealing with things they’re nervous about or upset by. It’s about listening, observing, and building strong relationships with their families. I’m still in touch with some of my former students and their families—one of my students just graduated from Smith, and I got to watch her graduation on Zoom. That was really special.

Megan: Teachers make such an impact—you remember how they made you feel. I definitely have a handful that changed my life, just by acknowledging effort or helping me feel seen. That can truly change a student’s entire path.

Alison: Yes. The ethos of Teach For America—and the culture of the school I taught at—was very much about taking ownership. If a student didn’t master a concept, it wasn’t, “They didn’t get it.” It was, “How could I have taught it better?” You really focus on the data. TFA’s goal is to create leaders who’ve experienced the classroom and understand the education system deeply—even if they move on to become lawyers, doctors, or politicians.

There are now over 60,000 TFA alumni, and I’m proud to be a part of that community. I went to college in Canada and moved to the States for TFA. I’m a dual citizen, and it’s been fun to have experiences on both sides of the border. My early twenties in New York City were full of growth. My girlfriends and I would go out, visit museums—it was such a fun, formative time.

Megan: Where are you originally from?

Alison: West Coast of Canada—British Columbia. But also Oregon and Idaho when I was little, so I definitely moved around a lot.

Megan: That’s very different from inner-city life in New York! So what brought you to Huntsville?

Alison: I met my husband in New York. He was an usher at this small church where my friends and I went to a Handel’s Messiah concert. He was helping people find seats, and I thought he was cute. He asked if I filled out a contact card, and I said no, and then he said, “Well, would you put it in my Blackberry?” It was 2010, and it was bold—but here we are!

He was an investment banker on Wall Street at the time, and I was teaching and serving on a nonprofit board. Then Hurricane Sandy hit, and he felt called to ministry. We both ended up going to seminary—he studied to be a pastor, and I focused on international studies and faith-based nonprofits. I worked at the UN’s faith office during that time.

While we were in seminary, we had our first son, George. I literally took an exam and then went into labor! We finished school by the skin of our teeth, with help from family, and then moved to Huntsville in 2016 when George was three months old. A year later, I met Eula and got involved with Free 2 Teach.

Megan: Did you start out volunteering?

Alison: I had a connection through Linda Brower, who was the development director at the time. She’s now at the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and also attends our church. She introduced me to Eula, who was looking for a new development director.

At that time, I wasn’t working—I was volunteering and helping with fundraisers. When I met Eula in this very room, I was immediately struck by what she had built. I’d seen nothing like it in New York, which was surprising. There’s a program called Project Cicero there, but it’s mostly about books. I was at a charter school, so we had more resources, but nothing like Free 2 Teach existed for public school teachers.

Eula had built this with friends, supporters, and a garage full of materials. Mayor Battle always jokes that it really did start in his garage. I left that interview feeling a deep sense of calling—almost dread—because I knew it would be a lot of work, but I also knew I had to do it.

Megan: For those who don’t know, can you talk a bit about Eula and how this all started?

Alison: Of course. Eula Battle was Mayor Battle’s late wife, and she was an absolute force. She never met a stranger, had a nickname for everyone, and brought so much warmth and love to everything she did. She was a teacher for 35 years—the kind of teacher everyone wanted. Hug for every kid, knew every parent.

I still meet her students to this day—some of them even shop here at Free 2 Teach. After she retired in 2008, the idea for Free 2 Teach started with a simple box of binders. Eula and a group of friends asked, “How do we get this to a school?” That was the beginning.

They built a supply closet model and officially launched Free 2 Teach in 2011. That first year, they gave away $38,000 worth of supplies. This past year, we gave away $1.74 million.

Megan: That’s incredible. I’ve heard you say before that Free 2 Teach has now distributed over $14 million worth of supplies since its inception. That’s amazing.

Alison: It really is. And it’s taken the whole community to make that happen. When I first met Eula, what stood out was her ability to connect people to public education. We say every child deserves an excellent and equitable education—and that’s what we’re here to support.

We operate through relationships. We give these supplies to teachers, not directly to the kids, because teachers are the ones who know their students. They know who needs a snack after a hard morning, who needs a notebook or crayons. This model respects the dignity of students and the agency of teachers.

Megan: Yeah, and I love that model because starting with the teacher empowers the teacher—to be more in tune with their students. Instead of a student stockpiling 47 boxes of crayons at home, the teacher can ensure they go to the ones who really need them.

Alison: Exactly. And there are assumptions people make about what the lack of supplies does in a classroom. Teachers already face immense pressure and challenges on a daily basis. Supplies are a huge piece of that.

Megan: Right. And I know you’ve rolled out some new programs too, which is amazing. Can you talk a bit about the day-to-day challenges teachers face and how you’ve responded to those?

Alison: Definitely. One of the key parts of our organization is empowering teachers and cultivating a community around them. I’ve had people ask, “Is this place about kids or teachers?” And the answer is—yes, it’s both. This is a space where teachers can make choices about their classroom, think ahead about upcoming lessons, and gather what they need.

Teachers do receive classroom funding, but it often comes in the middle of the year. Our goal is to fill that gap—to make sure they can use their limited budgets strategically on big-ticket items like microscopes or curriculum, and get everything else here. Even things like Kleenex matter. If you have a sniffling kid and no tissues, it can derail a moment.

Teachers also carry the emotional weight of their students’ lives while still needing to teach math or science. So Free 2 Teach has also evolved into a platform to tell their stories and highlight their impact. And as we’ve grown, we’ve listened to their feedback.

We used to only serve core classroom teachers every other month. Now we serve all educators—speech therapists, in-school suspension officers, school nurses, and more. When Eula passed away, I felt deeply committed to continuing that vision: not just assuming what teachers need but really listening.

Megan: I saw your Free to Learn program—that’s incredible.

Alison: Yes! That came from listening too. We heard over and over from nurses and teachers that students—especially girls—were struggling to access basic period products. One in four girls in the U.S. struggles to afford them. And it can keep them out of school. It’s not just a middle school issue—this starts as early as third and fourth grade.

So we created simple, discreet period packs. Teachers can take six each month. It’s all intentionally designed—burlap sacks instead of bright packaging, so students can grab what they need with dignity. Sometimes a sibling grabs it for them. It’s quiet, respectful, and maintains agency. That’s the beauty of our model.

Megan: That is so important. One embarrassing moment can change everything for a young girl.

Alison: Exactly. And we’re already seeing over 4,000 teacher shopping visits a year—closer to 5,000 now. They’re coming for crayons, yes, but we want them to also leave with these extra, important resources. A lot of what we do is in-kind support—gently used Legos, office chairs from businesses renovating their space, etc. But the key is always: what do teachers actually need?

Megan: What’s your process for identifying those needs? Do you do any formal needs assessments?

Alison: Oh yes—and my team laughs because I conduct mini-interviews at checkout all the time! I talk to 75 teachers on Tuesday, 75 on Thursday, 135 on Saturday. I ask: “What are you teaching with this?” “What else do you need?”

We also send a mid-year survey and have a Teacher Advisory Council that meets quarterly. Plus, we’ve joined a national network of teacher resource centers, so we can stay innovative and see what others are doing.

One major concern nationwide is teacher retention. It’s tough out there. The job is hard, the pay is often low, and burnout is real. So we’re always asking—what more can we offer?

Megan: That makes so much sense. Do you have any examples of how you’re plugging into existing community efforts?

Alison: Yes! I met two folks from Energy Alabama on a crazy plane delay. I had a screaming baby, we were stuck on the tarmac, and I noticed they were working on an education PowerPoint. I asked what they were doing and they said, “We have great lessons, but teachers don’t download them.” So we said—we’ll build the kits.

We got a $5,000 grant from PPG and Northrop Grumman helped too. Now we prep and pack ready-to-teach science kits. It’s three to four days of material for 30 students—hands-on, no prep needed for teachers.

We just finalized a partnership with the Huntsville Botanical Garden too, and we’re doing classroom garden kits. It’s all about finding what’s already working in the community and making it easier for teachers to access it.

Megan: That’s amazing. So what’s next on the horizon for Free 2 Teach? Where are you headed?

Alison: The big thing we’ve been working on for the past 6–9 months is expansion—both physical and geographic. For years, Eula and I talked about what it would look like to expand beyond Madison County. Until recently, we served only the 88 public schools in Madison County.

But we kept getting calls—teachers from Rainbow City, Mobile, all over. So we started laying the groundwork. I met with teachers, our board, community leaders. And on Valentine’s Day, we announced we’re now open to all public school teachers and staff in Limestone County.

Megan: Wow, that’s huge! And what a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day—by expanding love and support to even more teachers.

Alison: It really was. Our board was all in—they immediately said yes. I’m a big reader of business books, and one of my favorites is Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. He says that when you scale, you have to fiercely protect the thing that allowed you to scale in the first place. For us, that’s our volunteers and our culture of joy.

We have 30 to 40 regular volunteers each week who absolutely love being here. Our staff is small—just three full-time and one part-time employee—but we give away nearly $2 million in supplies annually. That’s the power of our community.

Megan: That’s incredible. And I imagine there are so many people who want to help—whether that’s through a donation or volunteer hours. What’s the best way for someone to get involved?

Alison: I always say—every donor is a big donor. Whether you give an hour of your time or a financial gift, it makes a huge impact. Volunteer teams help us stock shelves, prep materials, and pack lesson kits. And donors keep the lights on and help us buy essentials like copy paper, which alone cost us $30,000 last year.

We love doing supply drives with businesses and churches. And I always try to align our mission with the vision of potential partners. If your company wants a thriving community with great schools—that’s our goal too. We may go about it in a different way, but we’re after the same outcome.

Megan: That’s such a great way to put it—when your mission aligns with community goals, you’re part of something much bigger. And your facility is amazing. I don’t think people realize how large and well-organized it is.

Alison: Thank you! And it’s not just about the space—it’s about the relationships. We had someone recently who’s a professional home organizer say she always has extra materials to donate. And some of those unique items are things teachers couldn’t even buy if they wanted to.

Engaging with us on social media, sharing our story, making a financial gift, or organizing a volunteer group—all of those are ways people can help. And it all adds up. Because we’re not just giving out pencils—we’re lifting an emotional and financial burden from teachers. That’s transformational.

Megan: Absolutely. And it’s clear that your mission is so much more than just providing supplies. It’s about restoring joy, dignity, and energy to teachers—who, in turn, pour into their students. You’re creating generational change.

Alison: That’s the heart of it. Every child deserves access to an excellent education, and every teacher deserves to feel supported and empowered. We’re just one piece of that puzzle—but we’re proud of the role we play.

Megan: Thank you so much for sharing your story today, Alison. I’ve loved learning more about Free 2 Teach, and I hope our listeners feel inspired to get involved. Whether it’s through a supply drive, volunteering, or a donation—there are so many ways to make a difference.

Alison: Thank you! It’s been a joy to be here. And yes—please reach out. We always need more crayons, by the way! You can never have too many.

Megan: Never! Thanks again, Alison. And to everyone listening—check out Free 2 Teach, get involved, and we’ll see you next time on SheBoss.