What is one of your first money memories?
As a child I loved skittles! I remember regularly riding my bike to the local Dollar Tree to buy cones whenever I could afford them.
Back then, cones cost 50 cents (inflation is real!). I counted all my money in proportion to the number of skittles I could buy. If I had $2 that was 4 packs of skittles.
What makes you passionate about personal financial education?
“If knowledge is power, then financial knowledge is freedom.” I have this quote in the middle of my classroom, right above the Promethean board.
I am passionate about personal finance education because it is fundamental to empowering students to make informed decisions about their financial future in ways that can help them build wealth, break cycles, and take control of time and choices.
How long have you been teaching? And how many of those years were you teaching personal finance?
I have 12 years of teaching experience. I spent the first five years of my career as a math teacher at WW Samuell High School, where I taught Algebra I, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus. For the past seven years I have taught Algebra II and College Transition at the Law Magnet. I’ve been teaching personal finance for the past two years, and it’s been a joy!
Describe your school and the size, location and community in which it is located.
Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet is a close-knit community of students in the heart of Dallas. The student population reflects the diversity of Dallas, with a large majority of Hispanic students, a significant number of African American students, and representation of other racial and ethnic groups. A large percentage of students are considered economically disadvantaged. Students come from across the city through a competitive application process, creating a diverse student population with a shared interest in law, public service and community involvement. The school has a total of approximately 500 students. Due to its relatively small size, the school provides an intimate learning environment in which students are well known by their teachers and are encouraged to take on leadership roles early on.
Can you give an example of how a lesson taught in class helped a student and/or someone in his/her family make better money decisions?
This is a text I recently received from a parent of one of the students in my financial literacy class: “We talk a lot about your class. He really absorbs everything you say. Maybe you can single-handedly break the cycle of poor financial literacy in my family.”
I am grateful to be able to teach lessons that are directly relevant to my students and their families in their daily lives.
How has participating in the NGPF Network helped you personally? Professional?
Without a doubt, NGPF has the best curriculum I have ever used for the content I have taught – no exaggeration.
When I first started teaching personal finance, I was the only one in my department doing it and I had to figure out how to build the course from the ground up. After discovering NGPF’s curriculum, professional development opportunities, and teacher network, I knew I had all the support I needed to be successful in my classroom.
My first two years as a personal finance teacher would not have been what they were without NGPF. I am grateful to be a part of this community and teach a subject that is so important to the lives of our students!
What advice do you have for other personal finance teachers?
If you’re overwhelmed by all the personal finance concepts you could teach, start small and keep it relevant. For many students, a lot of information is new to them.
If you’re a personal finance nerd like me, I can sometimes be tempted to take the minors or dig deep into a topic. Focus on what is relevant to the children in the next five years and give them a foundation for lifelong learning.
#Teacher #conversation #Yonathan #Tadesse