With the help of Navarro Early College High School(NECHS) educator, Medina Willis, JA volunteers, and sponsor, Allstate Foundation - the students of NECHS had the opportunity to participate in the JA Personal Finance® program. Through this program, students learned to identify how their personal finances affect their quality of life.
Thank You, Experian!
This year, as tough as it was, Whole School Sponsor, Experian, believes the need to inspire young people is more important than ever. Experian puts into action the understanding that together we can make a difference.
Not only did Experian sponsor all of Patton Elementary’s students to receive JA's life-changing programs but many of Experian’s employees also stepped up to be virtual volunteers. These volunteers not only got past the hurdles of teaching virtually but made actual connections and inspired their students!
“I had a great experience at Patton Elementary. Volunteering with JA made me appreciate the amount of time and effort the teachers have to put into educating the children. The fact that the kids were engaged throughout the different lessons is a testament to the JA curriculum. I look forward to volunteering again in the future. ~Prenon Islam, Sales Engineer at Experian Partner Solutions
After our week of virtual JA at Patton, Experian representatives/volunteers, JA staff, and members from Patton’s administration gathered to say Thank You to Experian for giving the gift of JA to the young people at Patton Elementary.
Click the video below to see more.
The Patton students loved the time with their volunteers - learning about needs and wants, communities, how to start a business, and more! Students, now more than ever, need to know that their community is rallying around their education to keep inspiration alive. We are so grateful to Experian for being leaders in creating a better tomorrow for the young people of Central Texas.
“I love that you care about our education and you care about us so much.”
~Nathan, Patton Elementary 2nd grade student
“Ms. Culligan, I love to learn new things every day, and just maybe I will grow up to be a businesswoman.”
~Sophia, Patton Elementary 4th grade student
“I want to thank you for teaching us about business…I am going to make a lemonade stand in the summertime.“
~ Joseph, Patton Elementary 4th grade student
JA’s elementary school programs are the foundation of its K-12 curricula which include hands-on activities that work to change students’ lives by helping them understand business and economics.
We could not do what we do without partners like Experian!
#ReachandRebuild #ExperianLife #ExperianCares
Patton Elementary School - A Virtual Success!
JA programs may HAVE lookED different this year but the impact is still thriving at Patton Elementary School!
Educators said that their students were engaged and excited about their volunteers joining their Zoom classroom all while learning a lot and having fun!
Business and community volunteers worked to teach them about the fundamentals of financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship through JA’s life-changing curriculum! Volunteers enjoyed their experience and were pleasantly surprised by the students’ level of engagement, Zoom wiggles and all.
Here is what JA volunteers are saying…
“I had a great experience at Patton Elementary. Volunteering with JA made me appreciate the amount of time and effort the teachers have to put into educating the children. The fact that the kids were engaged throughout the different lessons is a testament to the JA curriculum. I look forward to volunteering again in the future.”
~Prenon Islam, Sales Engineer at Experian Partner Solutions
“The kids at Patton were awesome! Truly a super fun and rewarding experience.”
~Jess Mullen, Economic Development Officer at PeopleFund
“Thanks for letting me be a part of the event at Patton as my first JA engagement. I really enjoyed the lessons and certainly learned a few things myself.”
~Ted Warhoe, Senior Product Manager at Vrbo
“I had a great experience- I really appreciate the opportunity and would love to volunteer again in the future.”
~Stephen de Man, Regional Director at Dimensional Fund Advisors
Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers! Thank you to the Patton staff for organizing and giving this gift to their students!
A BIG SHOUT OUT to Patton’s Whole School Sponsor, Experian, for truly believing in building a better tomorrow!
#ExperianCares
JA’s elementary school programs are the foundation of its K-12 curricula which include hands-on activities that work to change students’ lives by helping them understand business and economics.
JA High School Heroes
JA High School Heroes launches at Wooten Elementary School. The students and the educator alike enjoyed having these high school students teach the elementary school curriculum to their 3rd-grade class.
This program benefits high school students by offering a community service opportunity while serving elementary students in their district.
This program gives 11th and 12th graders the opportunity to volunteer at an elementary school in a one-day event called JA in a Day. The high school students facilitate programs that focus on basic financial literacy concepts, entrepreneurial thinking, and community responsibility.
High School Heroes…
Give back to the community
Teach valuable lessons and life skills
Are role models to elementary students
Inspire young students
Build upon leadership skills
Enhance public speaking skills
Gain field experience
Work collaboratively to teach programs
Earn required service hours
Read below what the Lehman High Students enjoyed and learned from their participation as JA High School Heroes.
High school heroes for me was an incredible experience. When one joins and has their first meeting or event, it’s pretty scary because you’re afraid of messing up or not doing it correctly. It’s an experience that changes your perspective in many different ways, because you see things differently, and it’s a good impact on you. I liked everything about it, the way teachers would communicate with you, the resources available, and especially the students. The students made an impact because they demonstrated their abilities. Being smart, courageous, engaging, smart, and funny. If your planning to join JA High School Heroes, go ahead, it’s amazing, fun, everything. You challenge yourself to do things that you didn’t think were possible, you learn along the way, and the students are what make it special. – Sandra M., Senior Lehman High School
I am really thankful to Junior Achievement for giving us the opportunity to experience teaching. JA helped me discover that I want to one day be an educator. High School Hero's is a great experience and has lessons to teach virtually. I would recommend anyone to join HSH, it is a great opportunity and the staff is amazing. - Joana E., Junior Lehman High School
JA High School Heroes was really good for me. It was a great experience to interact with students in a virtual world. I liked how they have lessons written out for you with notes to teach from, it makes it so much enjoyable to teach without scrambling around to gather materials. I would highly encourage others to join because it’s a great experience! -Amy L., Senior Lehman High School
My experience with Junior Achievement was amazing, I loved working with the 3rd grade class. It was an amazing way to experience virtual teaching and gave me a taste of how teachers have to adapt to different situations. Once I logged in both the students and the class welcomed my partner, Amy and I. All the students engaged with the lesson and were very cooperative, as well as the teachers helping us get their attention or guiding the lesson. - Paulina U., Senior Lehman High School
Thank you to the students at Lehman High School for giving back to their community while learning important skills. Thank you to Lehman High School educator, Christine Garcia, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher and Education & Training Coordinator for giving this opportunity to your students!
To learn more email programs@jacentex.org
And That's a Wrap on the Inaugural JA Stock Market Challenge!
The Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge educates high school students about investing and trading in the stock market in a hands-on, high-tech simulation of the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The program included the JA Take Stock in Your Future curriculum prior to the JA Challenge Event where they had $25,000 of virtual funds to trade through the PayGrade stock simulation platform.
We had a goal to reach 50 students for our first JA Stock Market Challenge. We are excited to say we reached approximately 230 students from 11 different schools!
Shout out to Ashton Wong, Liberal Arts and Science Academy student and C.F.O. of Junior Economics Club of Austin, for partnering with us to make this event a great success!
Thank you to our teachers, volunteers, and sponsors! We could not do what we do without folks like you!
Congratulations, Students!
INDIVIDUAL WINNERS
1st place individual winning prize of $100 with a portfolio balance of $ 40,230, representing a $15,230 increase goes to Gabriel M.-D.!
2nd place individual winning prize of $50 with a portfolio balance of $ 32,736, representing a $7,736 increase goes to Adison L.!
3rd place individual winning prize of $25 with a portfolio balance of $28,197, representing a $2,112 increase goes to Sadhana K.!
TEAM WINNERS
1st place winning team prize of $500 goes to Team de Boisblanc from Experian with a final portfolio balance of $258,426, representing a $158,426 increase! Congratulations to Jacob, Sam, Alex, and Matin!
2nd place winning team prize of $250 goes to Team Rivera with a final portfolio balance of $101,997, representing a $1,997 increase. Congratulations to James, Audrey, Isel, and Makoya!
CHALLENGE HOST SPONSOR
TEAMS SPONSORS
Special Thanks to Experian for Underwriting the Student Prizes!
Vote to Say Thanks, Austin to Bill Taylor, 35 year volunteer for Junior Achievement!
Say Thanks, Austin, January 4th - 29th - the annual event that directs our community's collective attention to a group of incredible, selfless givers who have made amazing impacts for those around them! We are working hard for Thank You votes for Bill Taylor, and we need your help to get us a step closer to the $10,000 pay-it-forward donation awarded to the winner.
Bill Taylor, 3M retiree, started his JA journey in the Houston area before moving to the Austin area where he insisted that he must continue his weekly volunteering for Junior Achievement. Luckily 3M said yes, now 35 years later Bill Taylor has offered a lifetime of experience and mentoring to the next generation!
VOTING IS EASY - Click through the below links to vote. The Form has the biggest impact and is something you can print, fill out then send a scan or a pic to emily@jacentex.org
How to Help and Say Thanks to Bill
“Every day, every way” means that individuals, anyone in the world, can count for 7 Thank You votes each day, by all 7 different methods listed below. Vote every day, in all 7 ways to maximize your gratitude for this incredible person!
WRITE-IN (BIGGEST IMPACT):
Your name, then sign and date where indicated on Bill's Say Thanks form (download here) You can fill out the entire form for the month. Scan and send to emily@jacentex.org or can arrange for JA staff to pick it up.
CLICK:
Bill's VOTE button on the “Vote Say Thanks, Austin” page at RecognizeGood.org
TEXT:
TAYLOR to (512) 456-9244
MESSAGE:
TAYLOR to our Facebook fan page at facebook.com/recognizegood
DIRECT MESSAGE:
TAYLOR to our Instagram page at @RecognizeGood
TWEET:
TAYLOR @RecognizeGood with the hashtag #SayThanksAustin
EMAIL:
TAYLOR in the subject line to saythanks@recognizegood.org
GET STARTED!
Learn more about Mr. Taylor’s recognition.
Austin High School's Entrepreneurial Journey Continues...
Under the direction of Educator, Coach Nick Lebo and JA Volunteer Mentor, Eric Browne twenty-two students successfully completed JA Be Entrepreneurial® culminating in a virtual pitch competition.
Students presented a Mobile Bike Shop, Custom Masks partnering with local artist, Golfing Counter, Child Safety Alarm and Custom Austin High swag.
Next semester, Coach Lebo’s class will be continuing on to JA Company Program®
Thank you to Coach Lebo, Eric Browne and pitch judges:
E2: Entrepreneurship and Empowerment through the JA It's My Business Program
Are you looking for stylish glasses that have all the features of your smartphone in a more convenient location?
Do you want economical, healthy meals from a variety of cultures delivered to your home?
Need translation help? Stylish custom face mask? A doggy door with sensors? What about an app to rant?
Or how about a customizable basketball hoop with LED lights, speakers, and a camera built-in?
These are just a few of the innovative ideas the students from Canyon Vista Middle School developed with the help of JA Volunteer mentor and recently awarded RecognizeGood Legend, Bill Taylor. At the end of there JA journey they had the opportunity to presented to Pitch Judges from FactSet and Accenture and received valuable feedback as they will go on next semester to bring one or more of these ideas to life as a real, money making companies through the JA Company Program.
E2 may have looked different this year but we along with our FactSet and Accenture partners wanted to keep the E2 tradition alive to continue empowering young people through entrepreneurship. The future looks bright!
Thank you FactSet and Accenture for believing like us that Opportunity is for Everyone even in 2020!
JA F.E.M. Forum Goes Virtual!
Friday, November 13, 2020 was a truly inspiring day for all women of all ages. We along with our dedicated committee and sponsors transformed the live event into a multifaceted high value virtual event. It included special Why JA mission moments from our event partners and from a student in the JA Company Program, a panel of financial experts including a live Q&A, student activity breakouts pairing adult attendees/mentors with students to discuss their one, five and ten year professional and financial goals.
Panelist, Angela Shaw, reinforces the most important wealth tool to women is a strong (and fair) starting salary. “Make sure when you get in the door - you LIKE YOUR OFFER.”
JA F.E.M. Forum was created as an educational tool to help to bridge the gap in financial gender equality. “The gender wage gap starts in elementary school - research shows that parents pay boys more than girls for household chores” says Lisa Kottler, JA Board member and panel moderator.
Not only was JA F.E.M. Forum a great learning experience but it raised over $60,000 to help JA of Central Texas continue our goal to bring opportunity to everyone which will help to create more equitable communities!
Thank you to our generous sponsors, brilliant committee members, eye opening panelists, hardworking LASA practicum film students & teacher, JA Job Shadow company - Double Z Productions, our amazing student speaker, and all those adults and students that attended!
WOW, we couldn’t do what we do without you!
Congratulations, Bill!
After 35 years of volunteering with Junior Achievement teaching just about every program offered, Bill Taylor is an education all-star.
Bill Taylor has made a career out of giving back. He graduated from UT Austin in 1975 with an electrical engineering degree, then spent the first part of his career with petrochemical plants in Houston before a 26-year tenure with 3M focusing on cable product development. Over the span of his career, Bill dedicated time to industry trade organizations and nonprofits like Meals on Wheels, but his real passion was clear – teaching young people.
Thank you, RecognizeGood for honoring our dedicated volunteer, Bill Taylor, with the Legend award!
Dance4JA
Thank you to our amazing sponsors, H-E-B and DLA Piper. A huge shout out to the Dance4JA Committee members, DJ Mel and the moderators, and all those that donated and supported this event. Because of you we raised over 20k!
We danced, played trivia, enjoyed custom mocktails, bid on unique Austin centric silent auction baskets and more! With our usual bowl-a-thons on hold we used some design thinking to pivot to a virtual dance party. We along with host sponsor, H-E-B, wanted to do something fun that would include the entire community so Dance4JA was born.
Thank again to everyone that participated!
Announcing the 2020 Volunteer Award Recipients!
Junior Achievement of Central Texas recognizes the following volunteers for their exceptional dedication and service to our schools and, most importantly, to our students this year.
"These volunteers are a valuable part of making Junior Achievement so successful in our Central Texas schools," Taylor Vogelsang, president of Junior Achievement of Central Texas. "They bring their personal and professional experiences to students in this community, and it has helped make the connection between what students learn in school and what they will need to succeed in work and life."
We recognize Kendrick Barnet with City of Austin, Eric Browne with Nimail3 Business Solutions, Stacy Knight with H-E-B and Katherine Sobel with PeopleFund as Emerging Volunteer Leaders. Each one has volunteered for less than three years with JA of Central Texas yet have already made an impact in the classroom and in our organization by taking on multiple classroom assignments and going above and beyond connecting with students. We look forward to building relationships with these volunteers and impacting more students.
Our Excellence in Volunteering Award goes to Ali Wittich with Publicis Sapient, and David Gonzalez of EY. These volunteers have not only taught in the classroom, but have also joined our local planning committees to shape the future of JA of Central Texas. They help to guide our fundraising, planning and outreach efforts. We are grateful for their collaboration.
JA Champion Volunteers have not only dedicated multiple years to JA of Central Texas but also shown distinguished service to the organization. We recognize the following volunteers as crucial to our success.
Jullie Strippoli with Charles Schwab started volunteering with Junior Achievement in middle school classrooms more than ten years ago. Since then she has participated in teaching elementary, middle and high school programs. She helped create and serve as a chair of the JA F.E.M. Forum Executive Committee, an event for professionals and students focused on financial equity for women. Her role with JA has continued to evolve and meet the needs of the dynamic Austin community.
William “Bill” Taylor has been volunteering with Junior Achievement for more than 30 years. When he began his career with 3M he was already a dedicated JA volunteer and stipulated that he needed time to continue to volunteer in the classroom. He has since retired from 3M, but not from JA. He continues to volunteer with elementary, middle and high school students. He has even led an award-winning group of teens with the JA Company Program. This Program unlocks the innate ability in high school students to fill a need or solve a problem in their community by launching a business venture and unleashing their entrepreneurial spirit. Bill is an ever-ready and dedicated volunteer whose kindness and ability to connect with students forms the foundation of our volunteer program.
"All of our volunteers have helped reinforce the value of an education to countless students," Vogelsang said. "These volunteers are a wonderful example of how one person can make such a huge difference in the lives of young people in our community."
Locally, Junior Achievement serves approximately 5,000 students each year in the Austin area. JA volunteers are a part of a national network of business and community volunteers who are helping young people develop the competence, confidence, and character needed for success in school, work, and life.
We couldn’t do what we do without the dedication of our volunteers. Please join us in a round of applause for the 2020 JACT Volunteer Award winners! Congratulations!
JA Goes Virtual!
Ali Wittich, Marketing Operations Lead, North America with Publicis Sapient speaks with us after being our first virtual volunteer to pilot a virtual JA Company Program.
What is your JA history?
I have been a classroom volunteer with JA for nearly 10 years – in both Washington, DC and now in Austin. I remember being a Junior Achievement student when I was growing up in small town Montana, and my mom was a classroom volunteer when I grew up also- so I have a very strong affinity for JA and the work they do on a national level.
Why do you think JA is important?
I think it’s alarming how little the public school system teaches students about the basics of financial literacy – how to make a budget, how taxes work, jobs, skills, interdependence, needs vs. wants, etc. If you reflect back to your time in school you’ll remember tiny tidbits from long classes in geometry, physics, history, etc. But you probably won’t remember anyone teaching you about the basics of how money works. These critical financial literacy & life skills are left in the hands of parents to teach- making the disparity even greater for kids from single-parent or low-income homes. I think JA is so important because for many students, this is the only time they have someone come into the classroom to get them excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead of them.
Why do you volunteer for JA of Central Texas?
I volunteer because I strongly believe in JA’s mission that ‘Opportunity is for Everyone’.
Why did you reach out and want to help a student when the pandemic happened?
I’ve seen first-hand through volunteering in classrooms with JA how school is a solace for many kids, and I wanted to help a young person who was on the right track but had that opportunity taken from them with the quarantine. I reached out to my at JA to see if there was an at-risk, but high potential student who would benefit from mentorship and JA. Through JA’s network, one teacher at Travis High School – Ms. McClure identified a bright student named Michael who had a big idea to launch a polaroid printing business, and then all was put on hold when schools shut down. Over the course of a few months, Michael and I met on Zoom, used the JA “It’s My Business” curriculum, and worked through his business plan – discussing SWOT analysis, budgets, competitive research, etc.
As a way to celebrate his work I asked Austin friends if they would judge Michael’s final pitch in a Zoom “Shark Tank” – something I thought would be fun and get more friends interested in JA.
It was a heart-warming grand finale to all his work and growth – and I was proud to watch the shy kid transform into someone who was confident enough to pitch in front of a group of strangers.
Special thank you to my friends and business leaders who offered amazing feedback and seed funding for Michael on the final pitch.
Eric Browne, Nimali3 Business Solutions
David Gonzalez, EY
Lisa Kotler, Fintech evangelist
Jess Martin, Stronghorn Fitness
Jen Smith, DLA Piper
Natalie Watson, Watson Works
Hayes Whitney, Superior Healthplan
It was great to see the JA team open to quickly pivoting to try virtual mentoring – providing opportunity for a high schooler to launch a business in the middle of a global pandemic. It’s hard to measure what the long-term effects of Michael’s future trajectory will be with this Junior Achievement experience and curriculum, but it’s been great to be part of JA’s shift to virtual programming.
Thank you Ali and all those that jumped in to give this opportunity to Michael!
Looking to be a part of our mission and virtually volunteer with JA this school year? Email: programs@jacentex.org
JA Teens and COVID-19 Impact Survey
Two-thirds of America’s Teens are Concerned About the Financial Impact of COVID-19
Research Shows Financial Wellbeing as Big a Concern among Teens as Health
The financial impact and pressure brought by COVID-19 are weighing heavily on American teenagers, with more than two-thirds of teens (69%) saying they are either somewhat or very concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their families and day-to-day lives, according to a new survey by Junior Achievement USA (JA) and Citizens Bank.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. teens, aged between 13 and 18 and not currently attending college, found that nearly three-quarters of teens (72%) say they have had a discussion with their parents or guardian about finances as a result of COVID-19. Almost a quarter (24%) of teenagers say their parents or caregivers have shared with them their concerns about paying bills while nearly one-in-seven (13%) say their parent or caregiver has lost their job due to COVID-19.
Other key findings include:
More than half of the teens surveyed (57%) are concerned about how COVID-19 will impact their plans for the future. The only concerns that worry them more include a family member other than a parent or guardian getting sick (60%) or a parent or caregiver getting sick (59%).
44% of high school juniors and seniors say COVID-19 has impacted their plans to pay for college, with a majority (58%) saying they are now more likely to take out student loans to help pay for college. Meanwhile, 30% said they have had to delay college start date, and 13% said they have changed what school they plan to attend because of COVID-19.
More than a quarter of teens (29%) have a job outside the home, with 46% saying that they or their families depend on their income for living expenses. Most teens who work (62%) say they would need to violate social distancing recommendations to continue working
“Families across America are dealing with the short and long-term challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and teenagers are feeling these impacts, while also navigating being home from school and not knowing what the future holds for them,” said Brendan Coughlin, Head of Consumer Banking at Citizens Bank. “Now, more than ever, it is important that banks help their customers navigate these unique and broad implications and provide economic stability for our communities.
Making Sense: Work in the Time of COVID-19
COVID-19 is having a big impact on jobs
Many people are out of work because of COVID-19. When will they be able to go back? “Making Sense: Work in the Time of COVID-19” by Junior Achievement explores what is happening and what it might mean for the future.
Making Sense: COVID-19, Business and Innovation
Many of our favorite businesses are closed, but what does this mean?
COVID-19 has severely affected many businesses, but entrepreneurs are also playing a role in the fight against the coronavirus. See how they are using innovation in the fight against the coronavirus.
Making Sense: The Impact of COVID-19 on Business and Innovation from Junior Achievement has some of the answers.
Making Sense: Understanding the Financial Impact of COVID-19
We have released a free resource or teens titled Making Sense: Understanding the Financial Impact of COVID-19. The guide is designed to answer teens’ questions about the economic implications of COVID-19, including “Why are some store shelves empty?”, “Why are some people losing their jobs?” and “Are we going into a recession, or even a depression?” The guide is available here.
“While social distancing is essential to fighting COVID-19, the disease and the steps we must take to address it are having a financial impact. Our goal is to help young people better understand what’s happening,” said Taylor Vogelsang. “April is Financial Literacy Month, and this is really an important time to be sharing this kind of information.”
The guide is written with middle school and high school students in mind. It uses relatable examples to explain what a recession is, how the Federal Reserve works and steps being taken by government and the private sector to deal with the economic impact associated with COVID-19. JA is also offering free resources to teachers and parents who may have students finishing school online this semester. Those resources are available HERE!
Project Tomorrows
Today feels uncertain, but tomorrow represents hope and promise.
COVID-19 has quickly and profoundly changed our daily lives. Across the country, schools have closed and many will be switching to online-only learning for the duration of the spring semester in support of social distancing. As unsettling as the past few weeks have been to us as adults, consider the impact this is having on millions of young people who will be finishing school at home.
To support our young people, Junior Achievement is offering online resources for free to teachers and parents at www.JA.org/Tomorrows. We are doing this so that our children can spend more timing planning for and dreaming about tomorrow, and less time worrying about today. We are working hard to adapt more programs for online and home usage as we all move through these challenging times.We are committed to doing this until we can all be certain again.
Here are a few simple things you can do to support this effort.
Share
Please share the www.JA.org/Tomorrows link with any teachers or parents you may know. Also, please share the link and video via social media with your friends and connections, as well. The more the word gets out about these resources, the better JA will be able to support those who can use them the most.
Give
Consider giving a financial gift to Junior Achievement, it is critically important now, as JA is committed to continuing to serve the youth in their communities in new and creative ways. Preparing today’s youth is a critical mission and JA is acting nimbly in order to continue serving the ever-changing needs of students.
JA Central Texas COVID-19 Update
Junior Achievement of Central Texas is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our volunteers, students, teachers and staff during this public health crisis. We want to assure you that we are being vigilant of ongoing updates and are following best practices in conjunction with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Texas Department of State and Health Services. We have also been in communication with our school partners as the situation progresses.
At this time, we are suspending all JA student programs/experiences involving JA volunteer personal interactions with students until April 30th. At that time, we will re-assess the situation and make decisions about how to move forward.
JA Programs
JA's traditional in-class program delivery model is built around volunteers coming into the classroom so that students can learn from the expertise of professionals who work in their communities. With the outbreak of COVID-19, we are adjusting our model to meet the needs of our communities, including teacher-led programming and virtual program delivery. Over the next week while schools are on spring break, we will be working to implement alternative methods of delivery so that students do not miss out on JA Programs.
JA Volunteers
Junior Achievement will be in communication with our current classroom volunteers to outline next steps while programs are suspended. We will also be adjusting our delivery to allow more flexibility for virtual volunteers and teacher delivery. Moving forward we will continue to monitor the situation in regards to programming scheduled for later in the school semester. Please know that we will update you with these decisions via our website, social media, and email platforms.
JA Special Events
At this time, for the health of our community we have made the decision to postpone the JA F.E.M. Forum scheduled for April 2nd. We will contact attendees with our new date as more information becomes available. All sponsorships will be honored at the time of the rescheduled event.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers, corporate partners, and friends of Junior Achievement of Central Texas for their continued faith in our mission of empowering students to achieve their dreams.
We ask parents, families, employees, volunteers and companies to stay up-to-date on information, employ disease-prevention strategies, and trust only reliable sources including those found below:
Wooten Elementary School’s JA in a Day was a Hit for the Students and Volunteers!
Thank you to all the volunteers from all walks of life in our community who came to Wooten Elementary to share their experiences and teach JA’s three pillars, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Work Readiness! We are so glad that you enjoyed your time as much as the students did having you in their classrooms!
Here is what our volunteers are saying:
Jenna Mejia, BBVA
I had a blast with Mr. Comer and his class. The kids left today feeling empowered from the experience and they really connected well with the JA Our Community curriculum.
Lindsay Scheld, Endurance International Group
Thank you so much for sharing this opportunity with us! I really had a great experience and I'm ready to come back again!!
Eric Rivera, Community Volunteer
I enjoyed my time in the classroom and look forward to the next JA in a Day! This curriculum is so impactful for students. The topics introduced will greatly prepare them for the global and internet economy of tomorrow. The vocabulary and Cha-Ching videos were great resources (and so catchy!)
Priya Iyer, Cadence Bank
We had a wonderful time with our 2nd graders, and really enjoyed the day.
Andrea Simco, First United Bank
This is amazing!!! Thank you for organizing our visit. It was smooth and very fun! Just love those kiddos! Please let us know when more opportunities become available.
Andrea Colson, First United Bank
This was a very special day and I enjoyed it even more than I expected! The kids were so well behaved, very brilliant and engaged. I would love to do it again!
