Junior Achievement's High School Heroes program helps high school students learn to become leaders by taking charge and teaching activity-based JA lessons in local elementary schools. Through this program, high school students serve as powerful role models for younger children, honing their presentation skills, increasing their self-confidence, and feeling empowered to make a difference in the lives of others. In turn, elementary school students are exposed to JA's highly beneficial curricula.
As local school districts struggle with limited resources and urban challenges, our high school students often do not have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and real-world skills outside of the classroom. They need opportunities to make an meaningful impact on their community, develop essential life tools, and gain self-confidence. Likewise, elementary school students need to understand the importance of education and how to make wise decisions so they can thrive in today's world
JA will be rolling out the High School Heroes program for the 2014-15 school year. Participating high school students will be trained and then matched with an elementary school classroom. As volunteer teachers for the day, they will present a series of fun, interactive, age-appropriate lessons to the elementary school students. The High School Heroes will gain valuable real-world experience, while the younger students will be exposed to essential financial literacy and work readiness concepts.
Our ultimate goal is to help prepare students for the real world by providing them with the tools they need to make smart academic, career and financial decisions. JA programs can help lower the dropout rate, increase economic literacy and emphasize the importance of education, especially with at-risk youth. By providing this "win-win" experience for local high school and elementary school students, they will walk away with a greater understanding of what it takes to achieve their goals.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
