Professional Development

2008-2009 FEFE Master Teachers

We would like to thank all that applied for the FEFE Master Teacher program; we were overwhelmed by the number of qualified professionals who expressed their support and interest in the project.  We would like to welcome Shelly Stanton to the FEFE Master Teacher Team as well as Roxane Shammel back to the team for the 2008-2009 year.  To learn more about the program, please review the Master Teacher Program Overview below. 

FEFE Master Teacher Program Overview

The Family Economics & Financial Education project began in 2001 with the goal of determining what makes a curriculum work and how to effectively disseminate it to educators.  In a collaborative effort with educators, a curriculum which is easy to understand, simple to use, and low cost was developed.  Because of this partnership with educators, FEFE offers one of the only family finance curriculums which is “designed, tested, and edited by educators for educators.” 

FEFE attributes its success to the utilization of educator feedback in every aspect of the project. Since 2005, the FEFE Master Teacher team has worked diligently to review curriculum, provide feedback, and conduct trainings throughout the United States.  FEFE Master Teachers must have knowledge about family finance content, familiarity with FEFE programming, and experience conducting trainings.  To develop a stronger foundation in each of these areas FEFE Master Teachers have the opportunity to build upon their skills annually when working with the FEFE staff.  

With this in mind, the FEFE project is working to ensure the FEFE Master Teacher Program not only continues but is strengthened with a diverse team of financial educators and trainers from throughout the United States.  To accomplish this goal, FEFE is expanding the master teacher program into a multi-year training and development program.

All educators who have attended the week-long FEFE National Conference are eligible to apply to become a FEFE Master Teacher.  Within the FEFE Master Teacher program, three different levels of programming exist.  Master teachers selected via the written application process will have the opportunity to serve up to a three year term as a FEFE Master Teacher – National Conference trainer.   Individuals on this team will then have the opportunity to interview for the FEFE Master Teacher – Specialized Workshop trainer.  Additionally, individuals from both teams will have the opportunity to serve on the FEFE Advisory Board upon completion of their work with as a National Conference and/or Specialized Workshop trainer.

National Conference Trainer Team

• Team members play an active role with curriculum development and evaluation, programming, and have the opportunity to serve as trainers at the National conference.  Individuals are eligible to submit a written application in December 2007 for this program if they have previously attended a National conference.

Specialized Workshop Trainer Team

• Team members fulfill the same roles as the National Conference team in addition to traveling to conduct one hour, one, two, or three day workshops throughout the United States.  Individuals who are currently on the National Conference team are eligible to participate in an interview at the Master Teacher Retreat to be selected for this program.

Advisory Board

• Advisory board team members play an active role in providing curriculum and program guidance. Individuals eligible to serve on the board must have previously attended a National Training or been a Master Teacher.

The project has partnered with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America to offer the FCCLA & FEFE Programming Adviser award. The goal of this award is to train FCCLA advisers to teach other advisers family economics and finance, assist with the development of integrationg guides which illustrate how to integrate the FEFE curriculum into FCCLA programs, and to develop Enhancement tools that promote project based learning.  In 2007-08, grants were awarded to three educators that will provide training and curriculum materials to aid in the goal of this program.

2007-2008 Programming Adviser Materials

• Adviser's Checklist
• Current Partnership & Programming Feedback Form
• Dissemination Action Form
• Enhancement Tools Outline
• Enhancement Tools Brainstorming Form
• Future Partnership & Programming Feedback Form

The Master Teacher Program is the outcome of our Fellowship Recognition Program. In 2001, the Fellowship Recognition Program began with an elite core of seventeen Montana family and consumer sciences teachers.  The goal was to utilize their teaching talents to assist in the design of a semester long family finance curriculum. 

In 2002-03, an additional seventeen teachers were recruited from family and consumer sciences and business education.  The group of thirty-two educators developed and tested a complete semester long family economics and finance curriculum, ”Take Charge of Your Finances,”  in collaboration with the project.

The Fellowship Recognition Program matured into the Master Teacher Program in 2004. The master teachers have completed FEFE’s annual training and use the curriculum. Master teachers who participate in the program provide ongoing guidance to the project through curriculum editing and development, support newly trained educators and conduct educational sessions at the annual training. It is the continued collaboration with educators that strengthens the curriculum and distinguishes FEFE’s educator training. 

Three distinct curriculum strengths have resulted from this collaboration:

• The curriculum is designed, tested and edited by educators for educators;
• Professional development opportunities are offered to educators to expand their knowledge of family economics and finance through training, newsletters and individual assistance;
• Lessons are straightforward in a ready-to-teach format requiring minimal teacher preparation.

Educators may apply to become a master teacher after they have previously attended a Take Charge of Your Finances conference.  Applications for the Master Teacher Program are available annually in January.

Family Economics & Financial Education is extremely proud and grateful for those educators who have made significant contributions to the program. Each year educators are recognized for their hard work at the Annual Awards Banquet.