Elissa Harris, gifted teacher at Hartselle Junior High School was one of two area teachers to present seminars at the 4th Annual Alabama Economics Extravaganza in Huntsville on Tues., Jan 17. The daylong training event was attended by 75 teachers and other educators. They learned about economics, personal finance and math and economics connections.

Lead sponsor, Wells Fargo, sent Lisa Abbott and Chris Russell. Huntsville financial advisors, to welcome participants. Wells Fargo made a generous contribution to host the event as the kick-off for the National Personal Finance Challenge, presented in Alabama by the Alabama Council on Economics Education and endorsed by state Treasurer Young Boozer. As he introduced the advisors, Johnnie Aycock, ACEE executive director, observed ”both ACEE and public school systems are dependent on the private sector to generate the wealth necessary to provide the resources we need to train the next generation of Alabama children how to succeed in economic and personal finance.

ACEE staff and guest presenters offered 10 different sessions on economic and personal finance. The teachers received valuable, free curriculum including “Virtual Economics 4.0”—1,200 lesson plans on a flash drive. A highlight of the event was the first inaugural session of “Teaching Financial Crises,” the newest national curriculum co-authored by Cheryl Morrow, economics teacher, Spain Park High School.

Harris explained her techniques to bring economics alive to her students. With this training, she completed a year long, intensive course of study in economics to qualify as an ACEE certified Master Teacher of Economics. Dan Lord, Education Representative of the Alabama Securities Commission, taught teachers about the essentials of investing and offered his trademark session “Spending to Save.”

Teachers from 18 different public and private school systems attended from as far away as Montgomery. They included teachers from 3-12 in economics, career technology, math and gifted. Sponsors included Wells Fargo, The Boeing Company, Investor Trust, Sterne Agee and the Council for Economic Education.

ACEE Program Coordinator Wanda McAbee showed 27 teachers how to participate in the Alabama Personal Finance Challenge sponsored by Wells Fargo and endorsed by State Treasurer Young Boozer.