Junior Achievement program expands in Parker County

More than 90 financial literacy and drop-out prevention classes presented by Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail are up and running this semester in elementary schools and high schools throughout the Weatherford and Aledo independent school districts.

A member of JA Worldwide, the Fort Worth-based youth development organization expanded its programming for the 2008-2009 school year in Parker County, thanks to increased support by local businesses and volunteers. In addition, the organization also received a $30,000 grant from the Miles Foundation to fund programs in Parker and Wise counties this year.

The current expansion extended into neighboring Erath County, where about 105 seniors at Stephenville High School began participating on Oct. 20 in the JA Financial Planning program, which teaches students how to successfully manage their money as they prepare for college and the workforce.

“Junior Achievement is all very hands-on and very interactive in preparing students for their future, to see what their roles will be in our economic system as well as providing financial skills for them,” said Lisa Cox, Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail’s vice president of operations.

Junior Achievement – almost a century old –provides direct classroom instruction that focuses on work and college readiness, financial literacy and drop-out prevention. All training, curriculum and materials are provided to the volunteers by the organization.

The elementary school programs, which are taught one day a week for about 30 minutes to 45 minutes for five weeks, include a series of themes that teaches students about the United States economic system. Concepts and skills taught at each grade level build on those in preceding grades and are tied directly to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum of the Texas Education Agency, Cox said.

The JA Financial Planning program is taught one day a week for about an hour, and also lasts five weeks.

“From kindergarten to high school, our emphasis is on education, from staying in school to opportunities that are available to students after graduation,” Cox said. “We really help students begin to see their potential and understand that there is a lot to achieve in their lives and we help them to achieve that through education. Education is the key to achieving their goals.”

With the help of 1,344 volunteers last year, JA reached 28,312 students locally – including more than 1,600 Weatherford students in kindergarten through sixth grades and more than 40 students at Aledo High School.

“We are very excited to have community volunteers in our classrooms teaching real life and real world experiences about business and entrepreneurship,” said Deborah Cron, superintendent of schools at Weatherford ISD. “As a volunteer myself, I have seen firsthand the impact JA has on the lives of our children. Not only does it provide a positive influence and role model, but it also opens students’ minds to the great potential there is in the world.”

Currently, the JA programs in Aledo do not have a financial sponsor but are being underwritten from money raised during special fund-raising events.

“Our biggest challenges are funding and finding volunteers. They go hand in hand,” Cox said. “Our biggest need is in finding volunteers for high school classes. We’d like to be able to expand to other schools in Weatherford as well as in Aledo if we can get the funding and the volunteers.”

Volunteers come from all walks of life, Cox said, although the banking and health care industries seem to draw more.

Connie White, vice president, banking center manager in LegacyTexas BankÂ’s Weatherford location, began volunteering in her sonÂ’s class several years ago and has continued to participate in the JA programs ever since. 

“I love being in the classroom with all of the kids and teaching them about different businesses, managing money and how they can grow up to be anything they want to be,” White said. Â“The activities are so much fun, and itÂ’s a great way for me to represent LegacyTexas Bank in the community.”     

Cox said one of the key benefits for businesspeople to volunteer with JA is the opportunity to give back to the community.

“But it also is an opportunity for them to gain presentation skills and it affords them an opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise in their particular field,” she said.

The five classes being taught for the first time at Stephenville were sponsored by Town and Country Bank of Stephenville. Five additional classes are expected to be added for the spring semester, Cox said.

“Promoting and participating in a program designed to assist students in making wise financial decisions should be the responsibility of every financial institution,” said James T. Chambers, president and CEO of Town and Country Bank. “We at Town and Country Bank take our responsibility seriously and encourage our employees to support and participate by volunteering with Junior Achievement.”

Cox said there are currently about 50 volunteers in Parker County, many of whom return year after year.

“A lot of times people are looking to volunteer but are uncertain what to do,” said Cox. “This is a way to truly help future leaders of their community, the future workforce, while helping them professionally as well.”