This past Saturday, April 5, NGPF hosted a Virtual Conference to kick off Financial Literacy Month. The day was packed with inspiring sessions and hundreds of educators joined from across the country to collaborate and learn. Here are three highlights from the event:

1. Keynote by Tiffany 'The Budgetnista' Aliche

The Budgetnista, Tiffany Aliche, brought passion, purpose, and practical wisdom to the (virtual) stage as our keynote speaker. She shared her personal finance journey, practical advice for teaching money skills, and motivational insights that left educators feeling inspired and empowered. 

"Tiffany is FAR more than inspirational! Her giving attitude makes all the difference - giving with honesty, teaching/doing, volunteering, openly trying to teach EVERY one as early as possible about realistic money possibilities. Thank you for bringing her to us! This was the highlight of my week, month, semester!" 

2. Expert-led Sessions to Empower Educators

Educators had the opportunity to hear directly from financial professionals during our "Learn from the Expert" sessions. These sessions offered meaningful takeaways educators can apply both personally and professionally. 

David Gourley, CSLP, broke down the complexities of Teacher Student Loan Forgiveness and offered practical steps educators can take.

"David did an awesome job providing us with updated information on PSLF options. I will definitely utilize this with information to help my daughter, family members, and students." 

Aja Evans, licensed therapist and financial wellness advocate, explored the deep connection between money and mental health, helping attendees reflect on their own financial mindset.

"Aja was amazing! Her insight was super helpful, especially around finances in relationships!"

Dan Otter and Scott Dauenhauer of 403bwise demystifyed 403(b) plans and gave educators the tools to make informed investment decisions.

"Dan & Scott's sessions are always insightful and packed with valuable information. I really appreciate how much knowledge and clarity they bring to the topic of 403(b)s!"

Watch the session recordings. 

3. Engaging Resources and Classroom-Ready Ideas

Attendees left equipped with dozes of free resources, including engaging activities, interactives, and classroom-ready lessons. Whether it was learning about personal finance books for the classroom, resources to teach students about index funds, secrets to keeping students engaged in the classroom, or learning how to use AI more efficiently, attendees got hands-on with materials they can use right away. 

"I love the book suggestions! I can't wait to read them!"

"Each session I attended was outstanding and provided me with significant insights."

"There are so many activities and lessons that I will be taking back to my classroom!" 

You can view the resources from each session on the NGPF Virtual Conference webpage.

Keep the Momentum Going! 

Couldn't make it to the Virtual Conference or had a hard time choosing between the sessions offered? You're in luck! Many of the popular sessions will be repeated in upcoming Virtual PD opportunities. 

Plus, don't miss our dedicated Financial Literacy Month webpage, packed with activities and ideas to celebrate all month long, including Finance in 40! 

About the Author

Amanda Volz

Amanda joins the NGPF Team with over 20 years of experience teaching personal finance. During that time, she led her students to hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships, won multiple awards, and most importantly, impacted the financial lives of thousands of high school students. Amanda prides herself on being an educational leader and is constantly looking for innovative ways to make the classroom relevant, rigorous, and fun. She is a passionate advocate for financial education and has been a long-time member of the NGPF community. Fun fact - Amanda was NGPF’s first teacher account! When Amanda isn’t working, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and traveling with her husband and two children.

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