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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Finance Gets Personal in Classroom

Brendie Heter and Sam Neylan have a mantra: “Put your money where your debt-free mouth is.” The two women are teaching that wisdom by bringing personal finance classes to the Santa Clarita Valley school system. After becoming debt-free themselves several years ago, they want students to learn fiscal responsibility to avoid financial problems later in life, including debt and bankruptcy. Through their businesses, Heter Family Woodworking of Castaic and Neylan Group International of Valencia, the duo sponsors a new class called “Foundations of Personal Finance,” which will be offered at various schools throughout the William S. Hart Union High School District. Schools that have already signed up for the new curriculum, which begins this fall, include Bowman, William S. Hart, Saugus and West Ranch high schools. “This (curriculum) is revolutionizing our community, because we are seeing results instantly,” said Heter. “It makes sense to put our energy here, so this generation doesn’t have to learn the hard way.” Last year, Legacy Christian Academy in Valencia piloted the program with its seventh-grade class, while Canyon High in Santa Clarita tested the course with its high schoolers. Both proved to be successful, sparking expansion of the program. “Being economically literate is as important as teaching students reading, writing and numeracy skills,” said Anand Marri, associate professor of education at Teachers College of Columbia University in New York. “Students need to understand personal finance in light of the larger economic forces that affect their lives.” Topics covered in the course include budgeting, college loans, credit and debt, entrepreneurship, investing, retirement and consumerism. The sponsors pay for the materials and work with teachers of the class. Heter and Neylan also made sure “Foundations of Personal Finance” qualified as an approved math class and not an elective. Heter estimates that approximately 400 students will take the class next year but said that that number is still growing. – Stephanie Henkel

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