News/Accolades

Governor Proclaims April 2025 as Financial Literacy Awareness Month

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This April, Iowa Jump$tart invites all Iowans to hit pause and reflect on ways to sharpen their financial skills. Whether it’s diving into a great personal finance book or joining a local class, small steps can lead to big change. Not sure where to start? We’ve got your back—along with our amazing network of partners, we’re here to connect you with the tools and resources to help you thrive. At its core, money isn’t just about numbers—it’s about stability, choices, and peace of mind. We get it—navigating student loans, taxes, insurance, or bouncing back from financial setbacks like divorce or natural disasters can be overwhelming. But remember, you’re not alone. We’re all in this together—and together, we can build a brighter financial future.

April was a big month for us at Iowa Jump$tart! We had the pleasure of welcoming students from across the state to take part in both the Financial Literacy Challenge and the Economics Challenge—fun, competitive ways to build awareness and excitement around financial education. We’re also thrilled to announce that our annual Educators Retreat is set for June 27, 2025—a full day dedicated to helping financial literacy teachers learn fresh ideas, collaborate with peers, and walk away inspired. And for those looking to sharpen their skills from the comfort of home, don’t miss our upcoming Financial Fellowship online training on April 28, 2025. There’s something for everyone, and we can’t wait to see you there!

Member Minute, News/Accolades

April 2025 Partner Spotlight

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Carolyn Steckelberg is the Associate Professor of Practice at the ISU Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Sciences. She is also the Outreach and Education Specialist Consultant for the Financial Empowerment Center, Evelyn K. Davis Center.  Iowa State’s financial counseling and planning degree is the only undergraduate program of its kind offered in Iowa! Our curriculum will prepare you for professional work helping people through the complex process of financial decision making by providing them with advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement. You’ll learn in the classroom and be able to gain hands-on experience in a variety of settings while you’re in school. Graduates with a financial counseling and planning degree are prepared for employment in organizations committed to improving the financial capability of individuals and families.

Iowa State’s financial counseling and planning degree is the only undergraduate program of its kind offered in Iowa! The curriculum will prepare you for professional work helping people through the complex process of financial decision making by providing them with advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement. You’ll learn in the classroom and be able to gain hands-on experience in a variety of settings while you’re in school. Graduates with a financial counseling and planning degree are prepared for employment in organizations committed to improving the financial capability of individuals and families.

The Financial Counseling and Planning program is a CFP Board-Registered Program that meets specific criteria for educating individuals who wish to fulfill the education component for obtaining CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification. Earning the CFP® professional designation prepares you to be a more accomplished and effective adviser by providing the knowledge, credibility, and expertise needed to set you apart. 

The Financial Counseling and Planning program is also an AFCPE® Registered Education Program which offers students the opportunity to earn their Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) certification that enhances their degree and marks the highest standard of excellence in the field of financial counseling and education.

Carolyn teaches Personal Finance, Fundamentals of Financial Planning, and Financial Counseling and Lab. In addition to teaching, she serves as the faculty advisor and internship coordinator for Financial Counseling and Planning students. She provides financial counseling for students, faculty, and staff through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. As co-lead of the Bank On Iowa Coalition, she works to expand financial access for unbanked individuals. She also offers community financial education, including at the Polk County Jail. Her outreach includes workshops and one-on-one counseling to support financial wellness across various populations.

Carolyn enjoys being a part of the Iowa Jump$tart Coalition to surround herself with like-minded individuals and organizations who are passionate about providing free, non-commercial, unbiased, high quality financial education in our communities. She routinely connects with other coalition members for guidance and support, and connects students and clients with referral partners. She prefers to make a warm handoff to someone that she’s met and feel good about connecting with someone who maybe needs some additional help.

Caroyn’s favorite thing to do is find the time and space to be with her kids. Noel is a civil engineer with the City of Ames. Eva is in the doctorate in physical therapy program at Des Moines University. Nora is in the landscape architecture program at Iowa State University. She is finding it to be a difficult transition to be an empty nester. She also loves to spend time with friends and colleagues going out for food and drinks. She loves trying new things and meeting new people!

Teacher Training

2025 Financial Skills for Smart Living FIT Certification Training

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Join fellow educators from across Iowa and earn your FIT certification—an essential financial literacy credential that enhances your teaching and opens doors to new opportunities! The FIT training team will be in Iowa on March 28, 2025, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the DMACC Urban Campus. For just $50, you’ll gain a full day of interactive training, networking, and expert insights, plus generous financial incentives: attend the full day and receive $100, complete your FIT certification by April 11, 2025, for an additional $50, and if you’re already certified, earn an extra $50 just for participating. That’s up to $100 in your pocket while strengthening your ability to teach personal finance! Don’t miss this chance to elevate your skills and empower your students!

FIT is a financial education certification based on the latest national Jump$tart/CEE standards at no financial cost to teachers.

Sign up Today!
Member Minute, News/Accolades

March 2025 Partner Spotlight

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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.

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.

Job Opportunity

Job opportunity: Financial Skills Program Coordinator at UNI

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Do you or someone you know have experience in financial literacy education or high school business education? Our partner, UNI Wilson College of Business, is seeking candidates for a part-time position that supports the Financial Skills for Smart Living Program. If you are interested in this position, please find more information below.

More information

Member Minute, News/Accolades

February 2025 Partner Spotlight

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Jessi McQuerrey is the Director of Programs at the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) Foundation. For over 40 years, the ABI Foundation has served Iowans through educational programs that promote civic engagement and strengthen the state’s workforce. Their initiatives include Business Horizons Leadership Iowa University, Leadership Iowa, and Elevate Advanced Manufacturing. At Business Horizons, a five-day summer program for high school students, participants launch a mock business, gaining valuable insights into the costs of starting a business. The program also includes personal finance education, where students learn about scholarships, saving, and budgeting, with guidance from financial literacy expert Adam Carroll.

The ABI Foundation has long partnered with organizations such as Junior Achievement, the Iowa Society of CPAs, and Iowa Jump$tart, all of which help provide year-round financial literacy programs. These partnerships enhance there sources available to students, teachers, and businesses in Iowa, ensuring more opportunities for financial education.

Since joining the ABI Foundation in 2014, Jessi has managed various leadership and education programs, connecting students, professionals, and businesses across the state. She strives to create shared experiences that develop future leaders and bridge the gap between education and industry. Her work includes representing the Foundation among education-focused stakeholder groups to ensure business perspectives are included in educational discussions.

Jessi is proud to be a longtime partner of Iowa Jump$tart. She values the collaboration, noting that no single organization can address all educational needs on its own. Partnerships like this help create equitable access to high-quality financial literacy programming, which is crucial for preparing a future-ready workforce.

Outside of her work in financial literacy, Jessi enjoys volunteering in education and leadership development. She also loves spending time with her husband, KJ, their dog, Jack, and exploring local shops and restaurants in West Des Moines.

Challenges

Join the Quiz Bowl – Economics and Personal Finance Challenges are back!

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Attention Teachers!

Are you ready to bring some excitement into your classroom while helping your students sharpen their knowledge of Economics or Personal Finance? You still have a chance to join these Challenges – but hurry, the deadline to complete the steps is March 14, 2025!

Completing it is easy! Here’s how in less than 2 days:

  1. Register yourself for either the Personal Finance or Economics challenge and form student teams of up to 4 people while waiting for approval from the state coordinator. (takes up to 24 hours)
  2. Add your classroom teams on the official website and provide each student with their unique “access code.” (5 minutes)
  3. Let the students take the quiz through the “student access” button. (35 minutes)
  4. Check student scores and track their progress directly on the website. (see tutorial)

Why should you participate?

  • Pinpoint areas for improvement – Identify where your students excel and where they need extra support using their scores. Personal Finance Lessons and Economics Lessons are available to provide the students additional help.
  • State Finals Opportunity – If your team performs well, you’ll be invited to the State Finals, where you can network with other dedicated educators and high-achieving students as they compete for the top team.
  • Cash Prizes for the first and second place state winners!
  • National Finals Trip – Winning teams at the state level earn a travel expense-paid trip to the National Finals!
  • Recognition for Your School – State qualifying schools will be featured on the Iowa Jump$tart website, giving you and your students the recognition you deserve.

Still on the fence? Check out what other Iowa teachers and students are saying about this exciting opportunity!

Don’t miss this chance to engage your students in a fun, competitive learning experience while showcasing their skills on a bigger stage.

The challenges are sponsored by Iowa Jump$tart and the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

Financial Fellowship, Financial Literacy Tools

Teaching high schoolers about TAXES!

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Thank you to the Iowa Society of CPA’s for supporting this event.

Jenny McGarry, DBA, CPA, gave really great on ideas about taxes! She talked about what is important for high schoolers to know and how to get them engaged with the topic.

Presentation Resources:

Additional Resouces:

News/Accolades

January 2025 Partner Spotlight

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Shannon Gerard is the Vice President of Education at Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Iowa, where she has dedicated over 6.5 years to advancing financial literacy education. In her current role, Shannon oversees a team that delivers JA’s impactful programs to over 38,000 students each year across Central Iowa. JA’s curriculum spans financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship, with programs available for students from kindergarten through high school, as well as workforce readiness for young adults up to age 25.

One of the highlights of Shannon’s work includes managing JA’s signature experiential learning programs, such as JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, where students engage in hands-on financial decision-making and career exploration. These programs, along with classroom lessons, high school competitions, job shadowing experiences, and summer camps, help students develop the skills needed to thrive in the real world.

As a proud member of the Iowa Jump$tart Coalition, Shannon sees firsthand how the group’s efforts enrich financial literacy education across the state. ” This group is focused on enriching and empowering young people to have bright futures and that is what JA is all about!” Shannon shares. “Financial literacy is often something we discover after our K-12 experience out of necessity, and Junior Achievement is here to introduce and help students re-write that narrative.”

Outside of her work in financial literacy, Shannon enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She also loves cooking, doing yoga, and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Shannon’s work with Junior Achievement continues to make a lasting impact, ensuring young people in Central Iowa are better equipped to make informed financial decisions and achieve their career and entrepreneurial goals.

For more information about Junior Achievement of Central Iowa, visit https://centraliowa.ja.org/.

News/Accolades

2024 Financial Skills for Smart Living Educator Retreat at University of Northern Iowa

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Date: September 27, 2024
Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Location: Cedar Falls, IA
Who is it for: 9-12 Educators

Sign up today to reFRESH. reNEW. reFOCUS.

We are pleased to invite you to the 2024 Financial Skills for Smart Living Retreat, a transformative conference designed for educators dedicated to empowering students with essential financial skills. As we prepare for the 2024-25 school year, this retreat will provide the latest tools, strategies, and insights to make your financial literacy lessons more impactful. Highlights include an overview of updated curriculum, a review of the FIT certification, new Budget Game and Stock Market Game simulations, using AI to customize instruction, Pear Deck for interactivity, a recognition of excellence, an expert panel, and networking opportunities.

For just $50.00, you’ll enjoy a full day of sessions, meals, and a back-to-school kit. Plus, the first 100 high school teachers to sign up and attend the full day will receive a $100 stipend, and an additional $50 for completing the FIT certification by August 16, 2024. Join us to enhance your teaching toolkit and make a lasting impact on your students’ financial futures. Sign up today!

Register