Junior Achievement students from STEAM Academy teach financial literacy at NMZH

Students at Nelson Mandela/Hosea Zollicoffer School received valuable lessons in financial literacy Friday morning — taught not by their teachers, but by their older peers from the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy.

The student teachers visited Mandela as part of Junior Achievement’s High School Heroes Program, which trains teens to teach age-appropriate lessons on money management and entrepreneurship to their younger brethren.

“Today, Mandela has the privilege of having high school heroes from STEAM Academy,” Mandela Assistant Principal Tanganyika Brown said after welcoming the volunteers, who came prepared with teaching literature they had studied.

Ms. Brown noted the impact of learning about money at a young age -- including the very young in pre-K.

“They’re teaching younger scholars about financial literacy. We don’t want to wait until it’s too late for young people to know the value of having a dollar, earning a dollar, keeping a dollar and even investing a dollar,” she said.

“Money matters, and we want them to have that mindset early on,” the assistant principal said before the STEAM mentors -- working in pairs and trios and guided by Mandela School counselor Toni-Ann Trombetta -- set off to teach about financial responsibility.

Ms. Brown added that having older peers take the helm promotes a new dynamic in the classroom.

“I think it’s great exposure for teachers to see how students can lead, how students can facilitate, and how even scholars can take things in,” she said. “I hope this encourages more teachers to allow their own scholars to lead and to understand how we can really make an impact by listening and working collaboratively.”

Junior Achievement of New York partners with all three Mount Vernon high schools to promote financial literacy in the District. In turn, the high school students gain valuable leadership and public-speaking skills.

“We are in every single Mount Vernon school now,” said Caroline Tzelios, senior programs manager for JA of New York. “We’ll be running these Junior Achievement Days with high school students from all three schools throughout the year.”

She said the young scholars enjoy being taught by the older students.

“You can bring in corporate volunteers, but when you bring in high school students — who elementary children think are really cool — it becomes a win-win situation,” Ms. Tzelios said.

The high schoolers also accumulate community service hours, which enhance college applications.

For STEAM senior Kiara Hamilton, who was recently named Junior Achievement of New York Student Ambassador of the Year, the program has become a defining part of her high school experience.

“We go to different elementary schools and teach kids about things like financial literacy and the skills they’ll need in their adult life,” she said. “I’ve been teaching since sophomore year, and I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned.”

Kiara, who plans to study engineering in college, said her favorite part is seeing students’ reactions.

“I love seeing the smiles on their faces when you walk into the room. They never want you to leave — ‘Come back another day!’ they say.”

Senior Vilma Tomas, a three-year High School Heroes participant, taught students about saving, different types of currency and how money flows through the banking system.

“Teaching is very rewarding,” she said. “It benefits me because it’s enriching—it teaches me leadership and how to engage with children.”

Her partner and fellow senior, Adamaris Martinez, who plans to become a pediatric certified registered nurse anesthetist, said the program aligns perfectly with her goals.

“Working with the children is a blessing,” she said. “They’re adorable, very engaged and excited when we come. I really like being able to communicate with them one on one.”

Inside the sixth-grade classroom of teacher Jorgeann Cruz, the impact of the visitors was immediate.

“I think it’s wonderful because it’s a peer --it’s a different voice,” Ms. Cruz said. “I told my students that this is something you can work toward being part of—you can do the same thing when you’re older. It’s a great opportunity.”