Last month, students in Christine Krempa’s Personal Finance class at Johnstown High School had the opportunity to teach financial literacy concepts to some of the District’s youngest learners at Pleasant Avenue Elementary School.
During two classroom visits, high school juniors and seniors visited all five first-grade classrooms to deliver Junior Achievement lessons that introduced the foundations of personal finance. Together, they explored topics such as the difference between needs and wants, how people earn money through different jobs in their communities, and the important role businesses play in our neighborhoods.
While the high school students spent the semester studying more advanced financial topics including credit scores, investing, taxes, and mortgage amortization, the experience at Pleasant Avenue served as a reminder that financial literacy begins with understanding the basics. Building strong financial habits starts long before students open their first bank account or apply for their first loan.
A special shoutout goes to JHS students Elijah Wager, Soria Hock, Sheleah Brockett, Gracie Cheney, and Grant Rathbun, who stepped into leadership roles as student teachers. They led entire lessons in the first-grade classrooms while their classmates supported activities and worked alongside the younger students.
“With the upcoming Portrait of a Graduate requirements being implemented by NYSED, personal finance and financial literacy will be taught at all levels, PK through 12th grade,” Superintendent of Schools Ms. Alicia D. Koster said. “While financial literacy looks different at each grade level, the goal remains the same: to give students a strong foundation they can build on throughout their education, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and succeed both in and beyond the classroom.”
