A local school is focusing on arming its students with the basic tools and skills they need to succeed. Mt. JulietElementary School has partnered with Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee (JA) to offer a unique learning opportunity called JA in a Day to provide hands-on learning on different aspects of the global economy to its students. Thursday, May 28, employees from Deloitte spent the morning teaching JA’s economic education programming to students in all 32 of Mt.Juliet’s classrooms. While JA programs typically occur over the course of several weeks, these employees will teach all five lessons of Junior Achievement’s age-appropriate curriculum in a matter of hours through this unique arrangement.
JA has seen success with this program throughout town all year and has been working hard to provide this program to elementary schools before the school year ends, according to JA’s Director of Programs Andy Schenck.
“I am always inspired by the local businesspeople willing to take time out of their increasingly busy schedules to educate our kids. The education JA provides in financial literacy, workforce readiness and basic business principles is so important right now,” said JA President Trent Klingensmith. “It is because of these dedicated individuals that our students are receiving this education.”
JA in a Day provided similar benefits of field trips and guest speakers without the students having to leave their classroom. The Deloitte employees will spend most of the morning teaching students about their roles in the community, the workings of a city and the importance of local resources.
Tom Walker, a Deloitte partner and secretary/treasurer of JA’s Board of Directors, said Deloitte employees donate their time to Junior Achievement because of the “opportunity [it provides] to assist in children’s early development of business skill sets.”
The JA in a Day program began at 7:15 a.m. in all classrooms in Mt.JulietElementary School. The school’s principal kicked off the morning with a presentation before the Deloitte employees begin teaching.
About Deloitte:
“Deloitte” is the brand under which 165,000 dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to selected clients. The Deloitte practice in Tennessee includes offices in Nashville, Hermitage and Memphis. It is one of the largest professional services firms in the state and serves many of the state’s leading companies. Some 1,000 professionals and technicians work in the firm’s national internal financial and information technology center located in Hermitage. For more information, follow the aforementioned links or visit www.deloitte.com.
