“Growing up, I didn’t know anything about finances other than checking and savings; and I still didn’t know the difference,” says Azaria Staton, 3rd Grade Math and Science teacher and 2023 Houston Teach For America corps member. “A lot of bad financial situations could’ve been prevented with the knowledge about how to save and how to spend.” J$FFE resources helped Azaria Staton (Houston ‘23) get on the right track with her finances. “I have learned so much and developed a payment plan for my student loans when they start back up.” 

Like Azaria, many young adults entering the workforce find themselves facing financial challenges due to a lack of basic financial literacy. Recent studies reveal that insufficient financial education, digitization of money, economic uncertainty, and cultural taboos surrounding financial discussions contribute to Gen Z's low financial literacy. 

For many joining the corps, this is their first full-time job. To help corps members transition to the classroom, Teach For America partnered with Charles Schwab and it's founder (Schwab) alongside The Jump$tart Coalition™ to offer a special money management course. The Jump$tart Financial Foundations for Educators®(J$FFE) course was designed to boost educators’ financial wellness, effective money management skills, and future planning capabilities. With these invaluable resources, new educators are given the tools to avoid common financial pitfalls and empower them with practical financial knowledge.  

Here is what a few incoming corps members had to say about financial literacy and how these new tools are helping them break the cycle of financial unpreparedness. 

Balancing Budgets and Building Futures

Financial literacy is important to First Grade ELA teacher Gabriella Hart (Metro Atlanta ‘24) because it equips her with the knowledge and skills to manage her money. 

“My interest in J$FFE was sparked during a financially pivotal time as I began earning a salary for the first time. Recognizing the importance of managing my income wisely to cover living expenses and save for future needs, I sought reliable and comprehensive financial guidance.” 

Understanding how to handle money is crucial not just for daily transactions but also for planning and securing a stable financial future. “The financial resources are instrumental in helping me manage my current financial situation while also planning for the future. Their tools and advice are tailored to my needs, making it an appealing choice to help me navigate these new financial responsibilities,” Gabriella says. “They enabled me to budget effectively for living expenses in a new city while also strategizing for long-term financial goals. With access to various investment options and detailed financial planning services, I can make well-informed decisions that optimize my salary earnings and contribute to my future financial stability.” 

Self-Care Through Financial Literacy

Financial wellness is an essential aspect of well-being for second grade teacher Margot May (Bay Area ‘22). “Financial literacy empowers me to become financially well. Like attending therapy helps my mental well-being or eating healthy aids my physical well-being, financial literacy is an act of self-care.” 

Learning to be financially literate is an ongoing process for Margot, especially as she grapples with systemic inequities within the financial system. This caused her to procrastinate on her financial education, intensifying stress in unexpected areas. "Procrastinating financial education was causing me significant stress. I was introduced to J$FFE’s financial resources at just the right time. I was ready to start my journey towards financial literacy and now had the resources at my fingertips." 

Moving From Financial Awareness to Action

First grade teacher Paulina Belz (Memphis ‘24) grew up in a household that practiced financial literacy. “I had easy access to financial resources from an early point in my life.” But she quickly realized that was not everyone’s experience. “I feel like other people do not have that opportunity. Financial literacy is a tool you need to be successful in life, but it is not addressed a lot in school. Even if financial literacy was not discussed, it was still treated as common knowledge. I think it should be accessible for everyone. The deeper my understanding, the easier it will be to teach it to other people.” 

Even though Paulina is not a financial literacy novice, new concepts caught her attention. “There was a section on struggling to pay bills, stretching your income, and identity theft. They address financial literacy from every starting point and give you steps on what you can do in your end, as well as the laws surrounding money matters—laws that consumers are not familiar with. It is taking the legal aspect of it into your own hands. I did not know about that before. I really liked learning that.” 

The nuanced topic of navigating money gave Paulina a new perspective on life from a financial standpoint. “I feel more confident having gone through those resources and can now apply them to my life.” 

Similarly, while Azaria Staton may have grown up uncertain about how to manage money, she and her fellow corps members are now logging into their bank accounts with newfound confidence and less trepidation. “I’m thankful TFA exposed me to an easy-to-understand, easy-to-navigate resource!” Azaria expresses with relief. 

The transformative impact of Teach For America (TFA), in partnership with Schwab and Jump$tart, extends beyond just providing financial resources. It is about empowering young leaders to navigate their financial journeys with resilience and clarity, paving the way for a more stable and prosperous future. Through tailored support and accessible tools, TFA equips corps members like Azaria to establish solid financial foundations that not only meet immediate needs but also fuel their aspirations for the future.