Parent University to Feature Junior Achievement
An upcoming Parent University will connect Linn-Mar parents and interested prospective volunteers with the Junior Achievement program and share the impact on our students when volunteers share their business expertise in our classrooms. Parent U will be hosted Thursday, January 25th from 6:30-7:30 PM in the boardroom of the Learning Resource Center (2999 N 10th St, Marion). Please park in the lot at the northern end of the LRC and enter via the door located under the metal awning. The boardroom is the first door on the left after entering the LRC.
Amy Andersen, Education Director for Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, will share information on the JA curriculum and discuss how parents and volunteers can become involved in the program. Currently, JA works with all 1st-4th grade students (71 classes) as well as 8th graders (24 classes). The group also works with 8th grade students at career fairs at both middle schools as well as an additional 37 classrooms in grades K, 4th, and 5th.
“The group partners with classroom teachers to help deliver work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial education,” said Erin Kurt, Vice President of District Operations, “All told, we expect to work with almost 3,700 Linn-Mar students this school year.” During this school year alone, JA will work with more than 51,000 students in more than 2,000 classes in eastern Iowa.
According to Kurt, “One of the unique benefits of the JA programming is that all programs are taught by a community volunteer. The volunteers help bring relevance into the classroom and assist students in making a connection between what they are learning and how it can be used outside of school.”
“The programs are designed to support the curriculum at each grade level so teachers choose the time of year that it fits best into their classroom,” Kurt added. “Volunteers are then found to teach the program. Since each program consists of 5-7 lessons spread out over time, the students really get to know the volunteers and learn about the topics through several hands-on activities.”
Visit the Junior Achievement website to learn more about the program.
To learn more about Junior Achievement opportunities at Linn-Mar, be sure to attend Parent University on Thursday, January 25th!