After 19 years of teaching elementary students, Jennifer Poe began teaching high school business classes this fall. She turned to NGPF PD to help with the transition and has completed more than 100 hours of PD in this quarter alone, including almost every On-Demand module. Read on to learn more about Jennifer and what motivates her to be so dedicated to learning and teaching personal finance.

What is one of your earliest money memories?

My earliest memory of money came in high school when I started driving and wanted a car. My parents were of the generation that if you wanted a car, you bought the car. I went to work my sophomore year of high school and earned enough for a down payment. My Dad and I started looking at used cars and finally found one locally. He helped me through the process and the first day of my Senior year, I bought my first car. I was lucky enough that my parents paid for the insurance and some gas. That is my first experience with making and managing money.  

Describe your school and the size, location, and community where it is located. 

I work at Pittsburg High School in East Texas. We are a small rural community with about 4,500 people. We are the only school in Camp County and average 2,300 to 2,400 students in grades PreK-12th.

How long have you been teaching? And how many of those years have you taught personal Finance? 

I am currently on my 20th year of teaching. I taught 5th grade Science for 4 years, followed by 15 years teaching math, science, and social studies in 4th grade. I made the transition to high school this year. I am currently teaching CTE business classes. I teach Business Information Management and Principles of Business, Management, and Finance.

NGPF has been a huge help in transitioning to this position. I want to immerse myself in what I am teaching so I can pass it along to my students. They are at a critical point in their life when money management and finances start to play a bigger role in their lives.

What makes you passionate about personal finance education?

Personal finance plays a huge role in today’s society. The past few years have shown us that people need to be prepared and have some kind of knowledge about personal finance. The students I teach are entering the workforce and preparing for college, technical schools, or vocational schools. They need to be knowledgeable in order to be successful after high school.

What do you like about NGPF PD? And what have been some of your favorite classes or topics?

NGPF is easy to navigate and the training is thorough and easy to understand and complete. Some of my favorite classes have been the Consumer Skills, Banking, and Budgeting series.

What are your favorite topics to teach? And activities to use?

I enjoy teaching about budgeting and consumer skills. These seem to resonate with the students at this time of their lives. I use the MOVE activities and also the PLAY activities. Using activities that mimic real world situations are more familiar to the students.

How has being part of the NGPF network helped you personally? Professionally?

Personally, NGPF has helped me strengthen my own personal finance knowledge. Professionally speaking, it has given me great insight and content that I can pass down to my students. I believe that the earlier they learn about finances, the better off their future could possibly be.

What advice do you have for other personal finance teachers? 

I would recommend NGPF for their professional training and development. There are many opportunities in the curriculum and professional development that could deepen their knowledge of the course.

About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.