Best Practices

Cultivating Public/Private Partnerships

By Joanna Krogstad - FCS Teacher, Manhattan, MT

When thinking about the years I have been involved with Family Economics and Financial Education, (FEFE) it amazes me how rapidly things have progressed. My involvement in this program has given me the tools and confidence to impact more students than I could have ever imagined. All of the lessons not only teach financial concepts, but without even knowing it, you begin learning about using the multiple intelligences to teach to different styles of learners. I cannot begin to tell you how many of the active learning tools I have adapted to fit other curricula areas I teach. Whether it’s showing a new educator how to teach or enlisting support for my local bank, FEFE empowers me as a leader to collaborate with partners for my program.

When I have student teachers, the first class I hand over to them is always the Family Finance class. I do this begrudgingly, mind you, as it is my favorite class to teach. For the new classroom educator, the lesson plans themselves teach new professionals the elements of a well written lesson plan, complete with all the elements of exceptional teaching built in.

One of my biggest advocates of my Family Finance class is my local bank. The first time I approached them was to ask for help in providing financial calculators for my classroom. As a result of an initial phone call I placed, the bank president contacted me and said that he was appreciative of what we were doing. He shared the following with me, “You are doing what we (the bank) should be doing but don’t have time to do so.”  From that moment forward, the bank and its employees have been both financially supportive and verbally encouraging of our work in the community. They truly are one of my greatest advocates! I believe the financial wisdom we are imparting on our students has the capacity to allow them to make better decisions in all areas of their lives. We have a great responsibility and an equally great means to take partners and collaborate with others to deliver the message.