Henderson Teacher Named Financial Literacy Hero

The following is a press release from the West Chester Area School District.

Sponsored by the West Chester Public Library and Verizon, Literacy Hero awards are bestowed annually to community members who have made a difference in the lives of many. This program strives to recognize the many unsung heroes in our midst that help to educate, transform and improve the lives of others.

Given today’s economic climate, it is essential that students graduate from high school with the tools necessary to responsibly plan their future as independent, financially savvy, individuals, avoiding the pitfalls of credit card debt and staggering college loans. This year, in recognition of her efforts to help students build financial literacy skills, Deb Tobin, a teacher from B. Reed Henderson High School, has been jointly recognized with Keystone Federal Credit Union as the 2012 Financial Literacy Hero.

Tobin, a teacher with the District for twelve years, teaches Financial Fitness: A Guide to Personal Finance. This course exposes students to an economic analysis of our monetary system and financial literacy concepts including goals and decision-making, income, money management, credit, savings, investing, budgeting, and retirement planning. To reinforce the lessons taught, she integrates Keystone Federal Credit Union’s Classroom Education Program into her work. According to Principal Dr. Robert Sokolowsi, “Deb has worked extremely hard over the past several years not only to raise an awareness of the need for financial literacy, but she has also gone to great lengths to create curricula that help ensure this goal. She is an asset to our school and our community.”

In partnership with the West Chester Area School District, Keystone Federal Credit Union has student-run branches in each of the three District high schools. Each branch provides internships for students, as well as classroom instruction on budgeting, saving and investing. An Allowance Card program is available to help teens learn budgeting skills and use of a debit card. Each year, graduating seniors with an Keystone account, may enter an essay scholarship contest by addressing the topic, The importance of Maintaining Good Credit: How Will the Way I Handle My Credit Today Affect my Future?

Tobin, along with the other 2012 Literacy Heroes, was recognized during the annual breakfast at Longwood Gardens in April. More information on this program may be found at http://www.literacyheroes.com