From left, East Liverpool School teachers Lexi DeJulio, Kacey Rusyn and Laura Roeger attended Friday’s Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio’s Teachers Flea Market to save funds in setting up their classrooms for the 2025-26 school year. (Photo by J.T. Whitehouse)

CANFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio hosted its second annual teachers flea market on Friday.

Educators from around the region were able to shop for budget friendly classroom materials, supplies and books sold by teachers cleaning out their rooms.

The event drew even more teachers than last year, with educators coming from all over northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. It is the purpose, however, that makes the flea market so popular: Giving teachers an easy outlet to sell excess or unneeded materials and supplies, and serve as a venue to purchase those supplies at costs way under retail.

“It is easy for a teacher to spend $500 to $1,000 to set up their classroom each year,” said ESC Superintendent Dr. Traci Hostetler.

Teachers who had materials to sell are given a free spot to set up a table

“We provide the free space for the teachers,” said ESC Director of Pupil Services Staci Direnzo and coordinator for the event. “Some are retired teachers who still have relevant resources and this is a good way to pass them on.”

ESC Operations Director Steve Mines said other teachers can sell their surplus and use the funds to purchase new materials. He said a lot who attend the event are just starting out.

“A lot of young teachers are in their first year,” he said.

Direnzo said a man dropped off a couple of shelves worth of office supplies that were offered for free to anyone who needed them.

Retired teacher Sandy Petruzzi was glad to set up at the flea market. She recently retired after 34 years, lastly serving as a special education teacher at Paul C. Bunn Elementary School in Youngstown.

“This is my first time at the ESC Flea Market,” Petruzzi said. “I did very well in sales, and was able to offer help to others through free advice.”

Some teachers traveled as a group, such as third-grade teacher Lexi DeJuio, first-grade teacher Kacey Rusyn and 5th-6th grade intervention specialist Laura Roeger, who all came from East Liverpool schools.

“This is such an awesome opportunity and resources that are way less than one could pay for them,” Rusyn said.

June Grasso, 3rd-5th grade special education teacher from Commonwealth Charter Academy in Pennsylvania, was able to sell her excess materials she accumulated over her eight years of teaching.

“I sold a lot,” she said, “But more so, the event is all about sharing the love of teaching.”

One unusual display at the event was one set up by Poland Seminary High School teacher Patrick Williams. He offered a wide variety of 3D printed materials from dinosaurs to teacher name plaques.

“I was at the first flea market in 2024,” he said. “This is a nice event and I have repeat customers from last year. I just love doing it and designing items.”

Hostetler said the event is growing fast and down the road a bigger venue may be needed.