Forty-four high school history teachers representing various school districts across the state came together in two-week programs with Campbell University’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business to learn innovative ways to teach history. financial literacy and economic education to their students. The June program was held at Campbell’s main campus, while the July program was held at Campbell’s Raleigh campus.
The Economic & Personal Finance Institute was born out of a partnership between Campbell’s Business School’s Center for Financial and Economic Education (CFLEE) and the North Carolina Council on Economic Education. It is intended to help teachers meet recent state mandates requiring students to receive a passing grade in this area to graduate.
“As a higher education institution, we demand certain skills from our students, and over the past couple of years ensuring that financial literacy has become an accreditation standard that we need to address,” said Dr. Mark Hammond, vice president of academic affairs and provost at Campbell. “As such, it is very important to have students entering North Carolina colleges and universities who have a fundamental understanding of economics and finance as part of their education. It is consistent with what we are looking for and what we have to do with our students as well.
The five-day workshop gives teachers a refresher course and new information on government and economic systems, the costs and benefits of trade, wealth creation and training students for high-demand jobs in the finance. At the end of the week, teachers earn a professional development certificate and have access to lesson plans and digital resources to take back to their respective schools.
“Members of our community often ask if we are teaching these vital skills, and I’m proud to say we are,” said Dr. Aaron Fleming, superintendent for Harnett County School District. “Personal finance is a skill that every high school graduate needs. I am so grateful to the teachers in Harnett County and North Carolina for taking the time to attend.
The June program was held at Campbell University’s main campus, during the week of June 20-24, kicking off the summer program. Thirty teachers from 12 counties – Alamance-Burlington, Beaufort, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Harnett, Iredell-Statesville, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Sampson, Scotland, Wake and Wilson – were in attendance.
Master teacher, Amber Sluder, from Forsyth County in Winston-Salem, recounted her experience: “I can’t say enough good things about Campbell’s leadership for welcoming us and organizing the week. They were available every day for all of our needs and provided anything we asked for throughout the week.”
The July programme, which took place at Raleigh Campus of Campbell University during the week of July 25-29, produced similar responses. Fourteen teachers from nine counties – Cumberland, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Johnston, Nash, Orange, Scotland and Wake – were present.
During the week, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (’81), the first woman ever elected to an office in the North Carolina state executive branch, joined the class for lunch.
“Teachers do not enter this profession for the income, they are more interested in the results that their students produce; what you are all doing here is going to be life changing,” Secretary Marshall said as she spoke with teachers about the importance of financial literacy. “If you improve the life of a family, you will be a hero.”
Dr Shahriar Mostashari directs the Center for Financial Literacy and Economic Education — a partnership between Campbell’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business and the North Carolina Council on Economic Education — launched in 2017 as part of a national network of economic education centers affiliated with the National Council for Economic Education.
“Dr. Mostashari and Cassie Taylor, the Business School’s Outreach Coordinator, have organized and implemented an important program for NC teachers that will potentially have lasting effects on their students,” commented the Dean of LFSB, Dr. Kevin O’Mara “We feel fortunate to have partnered with NCCEE and our NC teachers over the past few years; together we have trained over 150 teachers. Outreach efforts, such as These programs fit perfectly with the mission of the School of Business and Campbell University, and we hope to welcome many more programs in the future.