Promoting financial literacy in schools in the Triad
By: Donna Hayes
Studies show children who learn math skills early do better in school and tend to have better success later on in their careers.
One agency in the Piedmont Triad ensures that happens for thousands of students.
“We have programs for everyone, kinders all the way through our high school seniors,” said Shayla Hilton, Director of Education and Impact for Junior Achievement of the Triad.
“What we’re doing in those classrooms is making sure that it’s age-appropriate and that they have the skills and the tools that they need to have a successful future.”
Hilton, a former elementary school teacher, says Junior Achievement helps students become financially literate so they’ll be ready for a job after school or even to start their own business.
“Our services are so important because everyone needs to have financial freedom,” she said. “Everyone needs to have access to tools and resources to be successful in the future.”
Junior Achievement of the Triad serves students in five counties: Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance,
Rockingham and Randolph. The work begins with students in elementary school and continues through high school graduation, with Junior Achievement workers and volunteers in schools to support teachers and reinforce math lessons.
“We help families at large, but most importantly, we focus on young people,” said Hilton. “We push right into their classrooms and support what they’re learning, so elementary and middle, we’ll go right into their classrooms. At the high school level, we typically are connected to their economics and personal finance class, because it’s so important, it’s a requirement anyway. So, we want to help those teachers support that lift and get the work done.”
Hilton says the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro helps the international nonprofit
at the local level. A grant from the foundation’s Future Fund helps teach children financial literacy through real-world, hands-on experiences. Guest speakers visit classrooms to talk about their education and career as part of a speaker series. Students also learn how jobs and businesses contribute to the well-being of their families and their entire communities.
“Economic development is very important to us, economic mobility. We want to ensure that students know how to be prepared for the future,” said Hilton. “We want them to have the tools that they need, the resources. We want them to be connected with the right people, so that when they step out into the world, they are well prepared.”
Read the full article at myfox8.com
Junior Achievement of the Triad has three full-time employees as well as three part-time employees. It depends on an army of volunteers to cover all the schools. If you’re interested in
helping, visit their website.