Every month, the national chapter of Jump$tart honors one ROCKSTAR teacher who is making a difference in financial education. These teachers are helping the students of today become successful adults by teaching them about money in school.
Thank you, Jeri, and thanks to all teachers for your hard work and dedication!
For me, it’s personal:
I come from the business industry (real estate, paralegal, owning my own business) into teaching. I was called to teach personal finance because I saw firsthand how a lack of financial knowledge can negatively impact people’s lives—students, families, and even colleagues. Growing up and in my own household, I noticed that money was a source of stress and confusion, yet it was rarely discussed or taught in schools. As I observed students, including my own children, preparing to enter adulthood, I realized many of them were excited about independence but unequipped to make smart financial choices. These experiences sparked a passion in me to change careers and empower young people with the tools to understand budgeting, credit, saving, and investing. Teaching personal finance isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about giving students the confidence to take control of their futures and make informed, responsible decisions that lead to stability and success.
How do you bring personal finance to life in your classroom?
I bring personal finance to life in my classroom by making the content real, relatable, and immediately applicable. I use simulations like Stukent, budgeting projects, stock market games, and case scenarios where students face real-world financial decisions such as choosing an apartment, buying a car or house, or getting credit. These hands-on experiences help students understand the direct consequences of financial choices. I also use digital tools and resources such as Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), Dave Ramsey’s Foundations curriculum, Inuit Personal Finance, Everfi, Banzai, Federal Reserve, and current event case studies to make lessons timely and engaging. Bringing in guest speakers from local banks or financial institutions helps students connect what they learn in class to the real world.
I tailor my approach based on my students’ demographics and needs. For example, many of my students come from low-income and/or migrant and refugee households, so I emphasize financial survival skills like understanding paychecks, avoiding debt traps, and building emergency funds. I often connect personal finance to other subjects like economics, math, and even psychology, discussing the emotional aspects of spending or the impact of advertising on consumer behavior. I frequently share my own financial experiences, both mistakes and successes, to build trust and show that learning about money is a lifelong journey. Whether it’s talking about buying my first car, declaring bankruptcy, credit card, etc., my goal is to model transparency and resilience, showing students that financial literacy empowers them no matter where they’re starting from.
What was your ah-ha moment?
One of my most powerful “ah-ha” moments was when a student who had recently gotten their first job came back to class beaming with pride, excited that they had completed their W-4 and I-9 forms on their own—something they said they could only do because of what they learned with me. Not long after, a former student who had graduated stopped by to visit and shared how they had just filed their taxes for the first time. Even more impressively, they had explained to their parents that they could still file and receive a refund, even if claimed as a dependent. That moment reinforced just how powerful financial education can be. It wasn’t just about meeting standards or checking off a lesson—it was about giving students the real-world confidence and practical knowledge to advocate for themselves and even support their families. That ripple effect is exactly why teaching personal finance is so meaningful and rewarding.
What else do you want us to know?
What I want fellow educators to know is that teaching personal finance is one of the most rewarding and impactful things you can do, not just for your students, but for entire communities. Even if you don’t feel like an expert, your willingness to learn alongside your students and make space for real-life conversations can transform lives. I’ve shared resources with other teachers from around my district and state to help them bring financial literacy resources into their own classrooms. Ultimately, we as educators have the unique opportunity to change the trajectory of someone’s future—one lesson at a time.
Jeri’s Favorite Resources:
- Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF)
- Jump$tart Clearinghouse
- Stukent’s Mimic Personal Finance Simulation
- Banzai
- EVERFI
More about Jeri:
I have attended the National Educator Conference (NEC) 4 times and always comes away energized by the shared passion and innovative ideas from fellow educators. My favorite lessons to teach are the ones that click with students’ lives—such as running a classroom “adulting” simulation where students make financial decisions based on careers, salaries, and unexpected expenses. I especially loves using tools like the NGPF and Stukent’s Mimic Personal Finance simulation because they make financial literacy come alive. I also really enjoy teaching students how to buy a home (since I am still a licensed real estate agent). For me, teaching personal finance isn’t just a curriculum—it’s a calling to equip the next generation with confidence, independence, and the tools to build a better future.