70 Years of Impact: Stories That Shape Junior Achievement

Nearly 30 Years Later, the Mission Still Matters
Clint Christopher, Superintendent

I still remember being a brand-new teacher at Virgil Grissom Elementary in Princeton, Iowa, trying to find my footing in the classroom. A couple of the teachers I partnered with already had connections to Junior Achievement, and before long, I found myself pulled into something that would end up sharing nearly three decades of my career. We had JA volunteers coming into our classrooms, and then an opportunity came along that none of us could have fully appreciated at the time – we were invited to be part of a pilot program called Exchange City, what is now known as Junior Achievement BizTown.

Back then, it was still taking shape – literally. There was a location in downtown Davenport where construction was underway, and we were part of the group helping bring the vision to life. We’d meet there, talk through ideas, and then head back to our classrooms to test pieces of the curriculum with our students. I can still picture those early days – bringing students into a space that wasn’t even fully finished yet, watching them step into roles, try things out, and give us feedback without even realizing how important their input was. We were learning alongside them, helping shape something that would impact thousands of kids after them.

As my career progressed, Junior Achievement stayed with me. When I moved to Moline as a principal and later into a district office role, we continued to make JA a priority, ensuring students had access to Exchange City. Then, during my time in the Twin Cities, I saw it from yet another perspective, as JA programs were embedded in the schools there as well. No matter where I went, I kept seeing the same thing — students engaged in real, meaningful learning that connected directly to their futures.

It also became personal. All three of my children had the opportunity to participate in Junior Achievement programs, in different districts and even different states. Watching them go through those experiences reinforced what I had seen professionally — that this work matters.

Now, as superintendent in Muscatine, Iowa, I’m committed to making sure our students have those same opportunities. We’ve worked to ensure that all of our sixth graders can experience Junior Achievement BizTown, because I truly believe in the value of what it offers. And today, serving on the South Region JA Board, I’ve come full circle in a lot of ways.

For me, staying connected to Junior Achievement has always been about what it brings to students. It’s the way it connects classrooms to the community — bringing in volunteers who share real-world experiences. It’s the focus on financial literacy and career readiness, skills our students absolutely need. And with Junior Achievement BizTown especially, it’s the hands-on learning — students managing paychecks, making decisions, working jobs, even figuring out when they can take a lunch break. It’s immersive, it’s engaging and it sticks with them.

As a board member, my role is to help ensure those opportunities continue to grow. That means thinking about how we expand access, supporting fundraising efforts to sustain the programs, and helping guide where we’re headed.

When I look back, it’s remarkable to think that what started as a chance opportunity early in my teaching career has remained such a constant. Across different roles, different districts, and even different states, Junior Achievement has been there — and I’m proud to still be a part of it today.