San Tan Charter School’s Partnership With Junior Achievement Allows Students to Learn ‘Real World’ Lessons about Finances and More

Volunteers from Junior Achievement Teach the Educational Lessons in Fun, Engaging and Age Appropriate Ways

GILBERT, Arizona—Thanks to an on-going partnership with Junior Achievement, students from San Tan Charter School are learning about important “real world” topics like finances, possible future careers and more.
 
As Carol Berhost, Junior Achievement Coordinator for San Tan Charter School’s elementary campus noted, volunteers from Junior Achievement regularly visit the school to lead the activities and lessons.
 
“Many of our volunteers participated in Junior Achievement when they were in elementary school,” Berhost said, adding that students from kindergarten through middle school take part in the lessons, which are tailored to the age of the students.

For example, noted Anne Landers, Chief Operating Officer for Junior Achievement of Arizona, a lesson on money will be explained to kindergarteners in a different way than to a group of fourth graders.

“At the younger ages, Junior Achievement is helping learners understand fundamental concepts like needs versus wants, about money and why it exists, and how it moves through the community to meet our needs,” Landers said.

“At older ages, students are learning far more complicated concepts like family budgets, opportunities and obstacles, credit versus debit and investment opportunities. Through each age group, there is a reinforcement of how learning correlates to earning and the long-term value of educational pathways to future careers. 
 
Megan Hubbard, who leads the Junior Achievement program for the middle schoolers at San Tan Charter School, said the lessons about finances and other topics have definitely made a positive impact with students.
 
“They have a deeper understanding of finances, from the ground up. They understand the community aspect of money as well, which I think will be a concept that sticks with them,” Hubbard said, adding that the lessons are fun, engaging, and full of games and interesting scenarios.
“They know how to write a check, figure out sales tax, make a deposit at a bank – real world skills that many kids have to figure out on their own when they turn 18. I often hear them relate concepts that they have learned from Junior Achievement back to our math and history curriculum.”
 
The benefits of the partnership between Junior Achievement and schools like San Tan Charter School can definitely last for years to come, Landers said.
 
“Because of our partnership, JA students are far more likely to be satisfied in their future careers, are going to earn 20% more than the general population, become financially independent earlier in life and become contributing members of society,” she said.
 
As Berhost noted, the Junior Achievement volunteers who come to San Tan Charter School include both parents and professionals from the local community.
 
“One of them received a Junior Achievement scholarship when she graduated high school and she shares that with the students she teaches,” Berhost said.
 
During the last three school years, 1,322 people who live or work Gilbert volunteered with Junior Achievement, Landers said.
 
“We have tons of opportunities to volunteer with JA - in fact, it takes nearly 8,000 volunteers to deliver our programs each year,” Landers said, adding that people who wish to volunteer can sign up at this link: https://www.jaaz.org/volunteer/sign-up-to-volunteer-with-ja/.
 
As Berhost noted, it is exciting to see San Tan Charter School support a program that plays a role in setting up its students for career readiness and financial success.
 
“Our students enjoy the JA sessions and are excited to  share what they learned about wants versus needs, saving money, starting their own businesses or careers they might enjoy in the future,” she said.
 
***ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST***For more information about San Tan Charter School’s partnership with Junior Achievement, please contact Kris Sippel at 480-222-0811.