Kevin Gartman is the 8-12 Business Teacher at Montezuma Community School. He is also a DECA Advisor, Varsity Cross Country Coach, JH Girls Track Coach, and Lead Teacher (Curriculum Development).
Kevin began teaching Personal Finance as a business elective when he joined Montezuma nine years ago. As the sole business teacher, he had the flexibility to choose his courses. While the previous teacher taught Accounting, he found it less engaging and believed that if a teacher lacks enthusiasm for a subject, students will too. Passionate about financial literacy, he introduced Personal Finance instead.
Growing up without formal financial education, Kevin learned through experience—losing money in poorly diversified investments, struggling to understand insurance plans, and navigating credit on his own. These challenges fueled his desire to ensure students gain the financial knowledge he lacked.
Upon arriving in Montezuma, Kevin noticed a stark economic divide—some families lived comfortably at the lake, while others in town struggled to make ends meet. He is committed to equipping all students with financial skills, helping them break cycles of financial instability and achieve their goals. While families with financial knowledge often pass it down, those without it struggle to do so. He aims to bridge this gap, ensuring every student—regardless of background—leaves his class with the tools to make informed financial decisions and build a secure future.
Favorite Classroom Resources: Kevin has many favorite resources, which constantly evolve. Over time, he has explored various curricula, selecting the best elements from each to create his own customized packets and assignments. While he primarily utilizes NGPF content, he believes valuable resources can be found in many places.
- NGPF Arcade games – STAX, Payback, Money Magic, and Spent are my favorites
- Kevin’s Personal Finance Toolkit
- Create a Salary-Based Budget (Budgeting)
- Roll With the Market (Investing)
- Move: Your Tax Dollar in Action (Taxes)
- Move: Paycheck Scavenger Hunt (Taxes, Career)
- Compare: Auto Loans (Types of Credit)
- Move: Making Credit Decisions (Types of Credit)
- Calculate: Impact of Credit Score on Loans (Managing Credit)
- Project: Buying Your First Home
Kevin first connected with Iowa Jump$tart through its challenges and national resources, which ultimately led him back to the state-level organization. He quickly discovered that the National Personal Finance Challenge, hosted by Iowa Jump$tart, is one of his students’ favorite learning experiences of the year—and one of his own. The opportunity to apply their semester-long knowledge, rather than simply reciting definitions, helps students develop real-world financial skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. He believes this hands-on experience is far more impactful than any slide deck and is grateful to Iowa Jump$tart for making it possible.
When Kevin is not teaching or coaching, he spends his time with his family. He and his wife, Kelli, have two boys, Coy and Clay, who keep them busy, and he enjoys watching them grow and learn each day. A passionate sports fan, he enjoys playing fantasy football, watching the NFL, college football, and college basketball, and keeping up with Iowa sports through various podcasts.
Iowa Jump$tart Coalition 