(Posted Feb. 3, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Have some free time? Want to help educate young people about business?
Junior Achievement (JA) Mad River Region has openings for volunteers to teach basic classes in business, economics, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and personal finance. Any adult is eligible to help. Most classes take place during the day at area schools. Training is provided at the volunteer’s convenience and takes about 30 minutes. JA also provides all lesson plans and materials.
“Children love to have volunteers in the classroom. You can bring your own experiences into the lessons, showing students how what they’re learning applies to the business world, the real world and to their future,” said Crystal Steiner, program manager.
The volunteer openings are as follows. Lessons must be completed before the end of the 2015-16 school year. Steiner will work with volunteers and the schools to schedule classes.
- Norwood Elementary, West Jefferson—Three volunteers are needed to teach the “Our Community” curriculum to second-graders. How taxes and the government work together, the flow of money through the economy, and other topics are covered in five 40-minute lessons. Classes take place in the morning.
- Norwood Elementary, West Jefferson—One volunteer is needed to teach the “Our Region” curriculum to fourth-graders. Regional resources, how to start a business, profit, and advertising are among topics covered in five 45-minute lessons. Classes take place in the morning.
- London Elementary—One volunteer is needed to teach “Our City” to third-graders. The importance of business to a community, zoning and development, and the specifics of a handful of jobs, including restaurant owner, newspaper reporter, and banker, are covered in five 45-minute lessons. Class times can take place in the morning or afternoon.
“We love working with kids,” said Teresa Harsh, who regularly serves as a JA volunteer along with her co-workers from Stanley Electric in London. “The class we teach is business and allows us to interact with the kids…asking them to identify what a business is, what a consumer is, etc. We learn from the kids and they learn from us.”
Business people, parents and grandparents are among the individuals who make up the majority of the JA volunteer corps.
Junior Achievement Mad River Region serves students in grades K-12 in Champaign, Clark, Logan and Madison counties. The goal for Madison County for 2016 is 37 programs.
JA offers all classes to schools at no cost. The non-profit covers expenses through a variety of fundraisers.
To learn more about becoming a JA volunteer in Madison County, contact Crystal Steiner at csteiner@jrachieve.net or (937) 323-4725, ext. 12.
For general information about JA, go to www.madriverja.com or www.ja.org.
