The 2020 graduating class will be the first in the state of Iowa to have financial literacy as a course requirement in high school. In 2018, Governor Kim Reynolds passed a bill into law. Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise said he was excited to see the bill passed last year. “I think it is a great effort that will really improve the financial literacy skills of our young people.” Johnston High School Business Teacher Lexi Schafer said high school is the perfect time for students to understand how to budget money. High school is the first time where they start getting first jobs, their first car, and planning for college. In the classroom students learn about budgeting a checking account, savings account, investing for the future and purchasing large items like a car. They also learned about “delayed gratification.” The curriculum includes learning about online banking and banking apps to help save money. The students like having financial security and the ability to do things that are fun. The feedback the students, parents, and the teachers receive is continually positive. Everyone is on board that financial literacy is a necessity in our high schools.
Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is the Pastor of Andrew Chapel, United Methodist Church on the Northern Neck in Montross, VA. Rev. Dr. Taylor promotes best practices for financial literacy and financial empowerment in the church and leads workshops throughout Northern Virginia. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the District Finance Committee. In May 2015, Rev. Dr. Taylor received her Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA. Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is married to Dr. David Taylor, who is also the Director of our church-based free clinic. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. In her leisure time, Rev. Dr. Taylor enjoys traveling, jogging, weightlifting, swimming, yoga, and interior decorating. In May 2015, Rev. Dr. Taylor received her Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rev. Dr. Taylor was born and raised in New York City and recently discovered her ancestral roots in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is married to David Taylor and they have a son and a daughter. Their daughter is a educator and son is an Active-Duty Senior Seaman in the Navy married with three children. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, reading, swimming, writing poetry, crocheting and spending time with her family.