An idea by Montezuma business teacher Kevin Gartman has earned recognition and a financial award that will help students for years to come.
Voya, a national financial services firm, has awarded Gartman and Montezuma one of its “Unsung Heroes Awards.” With it comes a $2,000 scholarship that can be used to help advance his concept.
Gartman’s concept is called “flexible seating in high school classrooms.” It focuses on the teacher’s vision for a classroom design that better accommodates activities and lessons he uses in his “Next Gen Personal Finance” curriculum.
The grant will be used to purchase standing desks as well as tables and chairs on wheels. This will help to simulate real-world scenarios and group projects in investing, budgeting, managing credit, insurance and more.
The idea is to make these seem more like real life applicable skills, rather than just ideas to read in a textbook.
Gartman said he hopes to emphasize the importance and relevance of financial literacy in a students’ long-term achievements.
Gartman was one of 50 finalists nationwide who received $2,000 each. There will be three additional awards including $25,000 for first, $10,000 for second and $5,000 for third place.
The “Unsung Heroes Award” program is two decades old. It goes to k-12 educators who use new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning. Applicants are judged on innovation, creativity and ability to positively influence students.
Winners are chosen by Scholarship America, a national non-profit educational support and student service organization. The national Dollars for Scholars program is one of Scholarship America’s programs and has a chapter in Montezuma.
Voya helps Americans invest and protect their savings in order to get ready to retire better.