Last week, Stuart Roosa Elementary’s fifth-grade students participated in Junior Achievement of Oklahoma’s BizTown. Roosa principal Glen Abshere described the experience as “the highlight of their fifth-grade year.”
BizTown combines concepts and relevant application, allowing students to connect the dots between what they learn in school and the world outside of the classroom. The program educates young people to value personal finance and practical workplace skills through preparing them to pursue a career and their dreams.
“The curriculum is written to include large amounts of information while being considered ‘way cool’ by my students. The program is very hands on. BizTown is an amazing opportunity for everyone involved,” said Mary Kropp, Stuart Roosa fifth-grade teacher.
Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority and Pixley Lumber sponsored all Claremore fifth-graders to attend BizTown as a part of the Partners in Education workforce development initiative. Stuart Roosa’s business Partners in Education are AXH Air Coolers and Hillcrest Hospital.
“They learn to work a job, get paid, balance a checkbook and their spending. During their visit, students applied their learning to everyday life,” shared Abshere. This included mock voting in the presidential election and participating in their own BizTown mayoral town hall.
