DMC Volunteers Take Over, Teach Junior Achievement Principles at West Oso ISD’s JFK Elementary School as Part of “JA in a Day”
Junior Achievement initiative provides volunteers unique opportunity to teach evidence-based curriculum “in a day” to inspire youth to plan and pursue successful future
Article by Melinda Eddleman
For 15 youngsters in kindergarten teacher Flor Elizondo’s class, learning life’s lessons about “needs” and “wants” was a major part of their curriculum on Wednesday, April 17. The lesson plan was taught by Del Mar College (DMC) volunteers as part of the Junior Achievement (JA) of the Coastal Bend’s “JA in a Day” at the West Oso Independent School District’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) Elementary School.
Overall, 34 volunteers participated in the teaching experience, including 29 from DMC, who followed research- proven curricula focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career and workforce readiness. Lessons were tailored to the kindergarten and first grade students whose classes that the volunteers were assigned to cover age-appropriate materials in a day.
“We are excited to have Junior Achievement at JFK Elementary because it is never too early for our students to learn about the importance of saving and giving and the benefits of working hard to succeed in life,” said Principal Roxanna Martinez prior to Wednesday’s “JA in a Day.”.
The mission of “JA in a Day” is all about imparting “possible,” and for Junior Achievement USA, the organization dedicated to inspiriting and preparing America’s youth for success in what is now a global economy, engraining concepts focused on education and career pathways, financial confidence and even business ownership can never come too early as part of preparing young participants for their future.
Team Del Mar volunteers were ready to head into the classrooms to provide lessons to ignite these youngsters’ dreams and even foster their thoughts about attending college.
Dr. Sramek and fellow College employee Cynthia Soliz, Health Sciences Advisor, served as the two teaching volunteers in Elizondo’s kindergarten class. All “JA in a Day” volunteers received training and materials to cover lessons tailored to their assigned grade levels, which included:
• Kindergartners: JA Ourselves uses storybook characters in read-aloud and hands-on activities to introduce the role people play in an economy. Through engaging, volunteer-led activities, young students learn about individual choices, money, the importance of saving and giving, along with the value of work.
• Frist Graders: JA Our Families (first grade) explains how family members’ jobs and businesses contribute to the well-being of the family and the community. The program introduces the concept of needs and wants and explores the ways families plan for and acquire goods and services. Students analyze their own skills to determine ways they can support their families.
Junior Achievement USA’s proven lesson plans align with national and state educational standards and are delivered by educational partners and local community volunteers to millions of students across the country. The organization’s website notes that “research shows that JA Alumni are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success and have started a business as an adult.”
“These JA volunteers dedicated their time to introduce important topics such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career-readiness to help students better understand business and economics,” said Ezra Moreno, JA of the Coastal Bend Program Manager, of volunteers’ efforts today. “It is not every day that Junior Achievement is able to reach every K-5 student in a district;. However, today’s volunteer day marked our reaching goal of teaching Junior Achievement curriculum to all 44 elementary classrooms throughout West Oso ISD.”
DMC volunteers taught grade-focused curriculum last fall to youth attending both JFK and West Oso Elementary Schools, which included kindergarten through fifth graders.
We could not have reached this accomplishment without these wonderful volunteers, and JA of the Coastal Bend hopes to repeat this goal next year.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.