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Testimonials
What Classroom Consultants (In-Class Volunteers...Like You!) Are Saying About JA
I thoroughly enjoyed my teaching experience; the little kindergartners are so smart! They remembered the stories I read the prior week and almost all of them knew what coins I held up. They loved the stories and it amazed me how they really love to learn. All the girls and boys were happy to see me every week, and I was so glad to be there too! I had lots of hugs and kisses even from the boys my last day! Ms.Yontz was very helpful and let me take over the class as soon as I arrived and helped out when needed. It was both of our first year for JA. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give back to the community. I will be very excited to teach again next year.
Mary Lu Haas
State Farm Insurance
Mary Lu Haas
State Farm Insurance
I am really enjoying my second grade class at West Lincoln! This is my first year to be involved in JA and I am very impressed with the program. The guidebook explains the activities very well and the kit contains everything I need. I have held three sessions so far and the kids are really excited and interested in what they are learning.
Jo Bode
Eaton Corporation
Jo Bode
Eaton Corporation
When you go to meetings about Junior Achievement, it is easy to feel obligated to sign up but not really believe that it makes a difference where you live and work. At our last meeting, I offered up some personal insight, as a new employee to Caterpillar's Corporate Auditing & Compliance Department, into the importance of participating in Junior Achievement.
I grew up in Peoria, IL, in a poor neighborhood (my mother's house sold for $12,000 in 2000). When I was in the 7th grade I received several F's and did not see the value of an education. Through volunteers from Caterpillar coming and speaking, I turned my grades around and won the American Legion Award.
I also went on to become the 1st African-American woman to graduate from The University of Arizona with a degree in Mining Engineering. I will have worked at Caterpillar for 11 years in January 2009. I not only have done well in my career; I also have been recognized for hard work and dedication to the community. I have been selected as one of 25 Women in Leadership, 40 Leaders Under 40 and Ten Outstanding Young People in Illinois. I am the Chair of Volunteer Training for the United Way and am on the Educational Foundation Board at Illinois Central College.
Had it not been for Al Hooks, a retired Caterpillar employee, coming to speak to my class and for a few teachers who cared, I probably would be a statistic instead of a Business Risk Management Consultant today. To add to this point I know many people who work at Caterpillar with the same testimony; they are here because someone cared enough to make a difference.
Erica K. Baird
Caterpillar Inc.
I grew up in Peoria, IL, in a poor neighborhood (my mother's house sold for $12,000 in 2000). When I was in the 7th grade I received several F's and did not see the value of an education. Through volunteers from Caterpillar coming and speaking, I turned my grades around and won the American Legion Award.
I also went on to become the 1st African-American woman to graduate from The University of Arizona with a degree in Mining Engineering. I will have worked at Caterpillar for 11 years in January 2009. I not only have done well in my career; I also have been recognized for hard work and dedication to the community. I have been selected as one of 25 Women in Leadership, 40 Leaders Under 40 and Ten Outstanding Young People in Illinois. I am the Chair of Volunteer Training for the United Way and am on the Educational Foundation Board at Illinois Central College.
Had it not been for Al Hooks, a retired Caterpillar employee, coming to speak to my class and for a few teachers who cared, I probably would be a statistic instead of a Business Risk Management Consultant today. To add to this point I know many people who work at Caterpillar with the same testimony; they are here because someone cared enough to make a difference.
Erica K. Baird
Caterpillar Inc.
What Teachers Are Saying About JA
Our JA classroom consultant comes to my classroom every year to do JA with my students. He does an outstanding job! The children love him and his lessons! His
enthusiasm is excellent and he makes the children feel really special with his positive, caring manner. This insures mastery of the curriculum and Ron makes sure the children know he thinks they are the smartest kids in the world! It's terrific!
Susan Cantrell
Grove Elementary
Bloomington, IL
Susan Cantrell
Grove Elementary
Bloomington, IL
The JA classroom consultant did a wonderful job with the 5th grade. They really learned and enjoyed the experience. On occasions when she couldn't make it, they were very disappointed. Even the student who normally never participates was actively involved. I hope she will continue to educate the 5th grade next year. Thanks.
Renee Newton
Carroll Catholic
Lincoln, IL
Renee Newton
Carroll Catholic
Lincoln, IL
The best way for me to explain our important relationship with Junior Achievement is to explain what they do for my classes. Junior Achievement provides me with the necessary educational tools to provide the highest quality economic education for our students. Every aspect of our association is at no cost to our school district. In these times of shrinking funding, an organization that provides us with top-notch educational resources is a blessing. Every one of our students receives a textbook and study guide. These resources have been developed in association of educators and business leaders and meets both national and state learning standards.
Junior Achievement also provides the educator with the necessary resources to evaluate student performance. Also included in our program is a computer simulation, JA Titan. This simulation allows students to work collaboratively to run their own business and compete with other businesses to successfully manufacture, develop, market, and sell their product.
This program is a complete educational package and does not differ from most economic classes. But Junior Achievement goes one step further: the consultant. Junior Achievement provides the most important aspect of education with their consultants: relevance to the students. I have the privilege of hosting seven volunteers in my classes to my business consultants. These outstanding members of our community make the pages of our texts come alive. Our consultants visit all of my classes once a week for ten weeks and discuss our curriculum as it applies to either life experiences.
The J.A. consultants are far above and beyond "guest speakers." They have provided priceless educational opportunities for our students. The list is enormous. Our students have gained employment through our consultants. We have gone on field trips to business sites through our volunteers. They have worked on projects with our community businesses such as Caterpillar, St. Jude, and Coca-Cola, Carlos O'Kelly's and Cullinan Marketing. Every child involved in Junior Achievement at East Peoria Community High School is touched in some way by its experiences with our consultants.
What is also impressive is Junior Achievement's growth. Junior Achievement of Central Illinois, Inc. is the fourth fastest growing program in the nation. Over twelve thousand students in fifty-five schools are receiving the educational opportunity I described.
My situation is typical. Every new teacher that gets involved in Junior Achievement loves the experience. But the students not only benefit educationally, they also love the experience. Junior Achievement's mission is "To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy." More than any other generation is an understanding of free enterprise essential.
Marty Green
East Peoria High School
Junior Achievement also provides the educator with the necessary resources to evaluate student performance. Also included in our program is a computer simulation, JA Titan. This simulation allows students to work collaboratively to run their own business and compete with other businesses to successfully manufacture, develop, market, and sell their product.
This program is a complete educational package and does not differ from most economic classes. But Junior Achievement goes one step further: the consultant. Junior Achievement provides the most important aspect of education with their consultants: relevance to the students. I have the privilege of hosting seven volunteers in my classes to my business consultants. These outstanding members of our community make the pages of our texts come alive. Our consultants visit all of my classes once a week for ten weeks and discuss our curriculum as it applies to either life experiences.
The J.A. consultants are far above and beyond "guest speakers." They have provided priceless educational opportunities for our students. The list is enormous. Our students have gained employment through our consultants. We have gone on field trips to business sites through our volunteers. They have worked on projects with our community businesses such as Caterpillar, St. Jude, and Coca-Cola, Carlos O'Kelly's and Cullinan Marketing. Every child involved in Junior Achievement at East Peoria Community High School is touched in some way by its experiences with our consultants.
What is also impressive is Junior Achievement's growth. Junior Achievement of Central Illinois, Inc. is the fourth fastest growing program in the nation. Over twelve thousand students in fifty-five schools are receiving the educational opportunity I described.
My situation is typical. Every new teacher that gets involved in Junior Achievement loves the experience. But the students not only benefit educationally, they also love the experience. Junior Achievement's mission is "To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy." More than any other generation is an understanding of free enterprise essential.
Marty Green
East Peoria High School
