Harry brings personal finance to life by helping students see money as more than numbers on a page. After teaching fundamentals like budgeting, investing and taxes, he challenges students to apply what they’ve learned. He has them research and present a charity they care about—competing for a $200 donation he makes on the winning student’s behalf. As students share causes that matter to them, they begin to see that money is about more than building wealth. It’s about making an impact. 

Michael Yaughn gets his students’ attention with a simple admission: “I did some stupid things with money in my twenties—and it cost me some of my thirties.” That transparency gives his lessons real credibility. When Michael teaches about budgeting, debt, and how financial choices affect their future, his students know he’s speaking from experience. And he teaches with one goal in mind: to help his students avoid the same costly mistakes and choose a better path. 

Wesley Duncan wants his students to leave high school with a plan for their money. At Columbia Central High School, where many students face financial challenges at home, his classroom is where “I can’t afford that” turns into “I can plan for that.” He’s helped students save up to buy their first cars, showing them what’s possible with patience and discipline. With more than 20 years in education, Wesley is focused on one thing: helping students build a future they can be proud of. 

If you want to see what real-world learning looks like, spend a day in Kathi Beach’s classroom. She teaches the practical money skills many adults wish they’d learned earlier—from budgeting to understanding insurance. With over 25 years of teaching experience, Kathi has seen firsthand how unprepared students feel when it comes to finances. That’s why she’s committed to making sure her students leave high school ready to handle real expenses, make real decisions, and take real responsibility. 

After more than 30 years in education, Valerie McDonald saw a troubling reality. “We’re graduating students with no knowledge of money . . . and it’s a crisis,” she said. Valerie watched students make life-altering financial decisions—especially around college—without fully understanding the long-term impact of debt. Determined to change that, she helped build a financial literacy program from the ground up. Now, she’s equipping students with the tools to make smarter choices so they don’t start adulthood already behind. 

Erik Yost measures success a little differently. After 28 years in the classroom, it’s not about tests or grades. It’s about former students who come back saying, “I maxed out my Roth IRA, I max out my 401(k) . . . I’ve got money in there already.” After leaving the history classroom behind, Erik built his personal finance course from scratch—one focused on building real-world money skills. Today, he’s helping students learn how to save, invest and think long term. Because for Erik, the real win is simple: Students get ahead early instead of playing catch-up later. 

At North Hardin High School, every senior takes personal finance with Diane Trotta. She sees that time as a chance to help students think beyond graduation and start making real plans for their future. She brings lessons to life by inviting guest speakers, organizing field trips to local car dealerships, and walking students through real-world decisions they’ll face after graduation. Whether they choose college, the military or the workforce, Diane challenges her students to leave high school with a plan—because success starts with direction.

One student walked into Melissa’s personal finance class eager to get a loan for a Tesla, open multiple credit cards, and start investing in real estate as soon as he turned 18. By the end of the year, his perspective shifted. Instead of rushing into debt, he decided to slow down and make more intentional financial decisions—all because of Melissa’s class. Having learned some of these lessons the hard way, Melissa is passionate about helping her students build money skills early. She wants them to realize that success isn’t about looking wealthy. It’s about having the patience to build a strong foundation—the kind that gives them the freedom to pursue what they’re created to do.

David’s students arrive curious about one thing: how to make money grow. But over the course of his personal finance class, they leave with something greater. They discover how compound interest rewards patience, how debt can stand in the way of their goals, and how a plan can take them further than a paycheck alone. For many students, the class changes the way they think about their future. In a community where financial opportunities feel out of reach, David gives students hope and a road map to the life they want to create.