When Elizabeth Shoeman learned about the Junior Achievement program through her former employer, StorageTek, she thought it would be something fun to do. Little did she know that she would create a lasting impression on her students.

Junior Achievement builds a bridge between the classroom and the business community. Volunteers pass on positive attitudes toward work, education and staying in school. "Junior Achievement is about putting role models into the classroom,"said Heather Hope, public relations manager for Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain Inc.

"Elizabeth is a role model to the kids and the community. She’s a wonderful example of the positive influence volunteers have on students."

Shoeman teaches first-through third-graders at Spangler Elementary in Longmont, Coal Creek Elementary in Louisville and her twin granddaughters’ classroom in Eldorado K-8 in Superior. She is impressed by how well the Junior Achievement program meshes with the schools’ curricula.

"The materials are so well-developed," Shoeman said. "All I need is to review them to teach. They really get kids thinking about the economic process."

In first grade, she discusses the economic role of the family. "The first-graders just blow me away when discussing needs and wants,"Shoeman said. "They understand that you spend on needs first, then wants."

To second-graders, she teaches economic opportunities and responsibilities in the community. "We discuss taxes and how they pay for services,"Shoeman said.

Her third-graders learn how business works. "We pretend to open a restaurant,"
she said. "The students enjoy making decisions and understanding the concepts."

Volunteering for Junior Achievement is a positive experience for Shoeman because she is more involved in her granddaughters’ lives.

Shoeman also feels valued by her students. "There’s nothing like it when a full room of first-graders line up to give you a hug to tell you they’ll miss you," she said.

For more information on Junior Achievement visit www.jacolorado.org.

For information about volunteering with Junior Achievement or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.