Jeeva Ashok
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Prince George's County Public Schools
Picture this: a significant financial decision looms in an area in which you have no experience. You’re uncertain on how to navigate it successfully, and you’re struggling to figure out how to approach the problem.
Now imagine another scenario: the same challenge approaches, but you remember navigating a similar problem in high school. You worked through case studies and explored options using trial and error. Now, you’re feeling prepared, unfazed, and ready for the moment.
That scenario is reality for tens of thousands of high school students in Prince George’s County Public Schools, which now requires a course in personal finance for all high school students - giving them the chance to learn from financial decision-making challenges before adulthood. And Jeeva Ashok, a personal finance teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, is using hands-on learning experiences, and robust support from MCEE, to help her students make the most of it.
“Financial learning experiences matter so much to young people,” explains Jeeva, who has been teaching financial literacy for the last five years of her 20-year career. “They’re life lessons; we’re helping students learn these skills now and avoid doing it the hard way later.”
In her personal finance class, 10-12th grade students are challenged to navigate real-world financial scenarios. They begin with the basics, and progresses to experiences like calculating interest rates, exploring how credit cards work, and creating a five-step plan for improving a fictional family’s finances. Jeeva also has students interview their families about financial topics, helping spark discussions and the sharing of financial lessons at home.
“We’re giving students practical experience with what they’ll need to know down the road,” says Jeeva. Those lessons are crafted with support and inspiration from MCEE. “MCEE’s content and classroom activities align perfectly with our curriculum. They’re an amazing partner.”
Jeeva also guides students to participate in MCEE’s Personal Finance Challenge and Stock Market Game. Seven teams of Jeeva’s students participate in the Personal Finance Challenge! “They just love these competitions. I hear them chatting about stocks and finances in the hallways. They even stay after school to learn more!”
MCEE’s annual summit is a can’t-miss event for Jeeva. She and hundreds of Maryland educators come together to share ideas, and learn the best practices around teaching financial content. “I left with many new ideas from fellow teachers and MCEE. It was a great experience.”
Jeeva’s passion for financial education is clear. “I truly teach from my heart. This content matters so much for young people. They’ve personally seen the impact of poor money management and debt. This learning is about making sure they are prepared. Our young people need these classes!”
MCEE works with thousands of educators like Jeeva every year to give more than 200,000 students the financial learning experiences they need. Learn more about our work here.
