Education isn't what it used to be, its better. Through the efforts of Junior Achievement and its volunteers, business leaders in the Hudson Valley are working with elementary schools, infusing the classroom with real world experience. Mrs. Michelle Doran, Law Office Administrator for Jacobowitz and Gubits, a full service law firm in the Hudson Valley, was recruited to participate, which meant dedicating one hour, one day each week for five weeks, working with children at the Marlboro Elementary School.
"Your Community" is the theme for JA's third grade curriculum. Topics include community zoning, entrepreneurship, creating a newspaper and banking. To enrich the children's experience, Mrs. Doran invited other community leaders to join the lessons, including Tom Coupart, Marlboro Town Supervisor and local commercial builder, Sawyer Savings Senior Loan Officer, Dennis McCourt and Reporter Andrew Hackmack from the Southern Ulster Times. In addition to the planned lesson, the leaders talked about their day to day experience in the work force.
Although the project took Mrs. Doran away from her responsibilities at the law firm, her volunteerism was fully supported, not only by the students, but by her employer as well. Managing Partner, Howard Protter commented, "Michelle was asked to volunteer by a fellow chamber member. I knew she was very interested in giving back to the community and her child's school and our firm encourages volunteerism if it will be rewarding to the individual and the community. Junior Achievement is certainly a worthy program."
Junior Achievement is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives. "Junior Achievement is a wonderful way to bring the real world into the classroom." said the third grade teacher at Marlboro Elementary School, Mrs. Noreen DallVechia, "I've been in education for more than thirty years and I have found that JA is an excellent way to enrich our classroom. The JA presenters are prepared, generous and exciting instructors that the children welcome every time."
If you are interested in learning more about bringing Junior Achievement to your school district, please contact Barbara Reer, District Manager of Junior Achievement at (845) 331-3540.
