70 Years of Impact: Stories That Shape Junior Achievement


"Group O has long been a big supporter of Junior Achievement, and soon after joining the team in August of 1996 I was encouraged to volunteer in the classroom for JA.  Giving back to the community I grew up in felt right, and if Group O supported a cause I did as well.
 
I don't recall exactly what year I started teaching.  It was 1997 or 1998 and I taught an early elementary class at Horace Mann Elementary.  I was a little nervous for the first class, but I found it was fairly easy and JA prepared me with the appropriate resources.  Next semester I taught at Edison Junior High with Ms. Erickson and she made the classes so easy to manage and worked with me at times to help with the lessons.  From that point on, every class I taught in was with Ms. Erickson.  We taught together until 2024 when we both retired.  Early on I sometimes taught fall and spring sessions so I imagine I have completed 30 or so classes over the years.
 
I really enjoyed visiting the classroom.  The 3rd and 4th graders were always a fun bunch that had little problem engaging, and the JA curriculum allowed me to teach some topics I am passionate about - budgeting, wants/needs, the evil side of credit, etc.  The last class of the semester was always bittersweet.  Every time I gained more and more appreciation for the tough job our educators have and was thankful for my career in IT!  Ms. Erikson always had a batch of thank you cards created by the kids and they were always a treat to enjoy back at the office.  Every once in a while a student I had previously taught would approach me somewhere in town (like a Rocky game) and say hello and that never failed to make my heart smile."
 
Mike Huntley
JA Volunteer