Kentucky Jump$tart Coalition honors its Teacher, Student of the Year winners

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Press Release) – Members of the Kentucky Jump$tart Coalition gathered recently for the “Kentucky Jump$tart Teacher Awards Dinner with the Fed.” Attendees celebrated Kentucky Jump$tart’s 2021 Teacher of the Year and Student of the Year award winners.

Teacher of the Year

The 2021 Teacher of the Year is Alex R. Claycomb of Ramsey Middle School in Louisville. The award honors a current Kentucky teacher in grades K-12 who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to teaching financial literacy topics and motivating students to learn about personal finance. Alex is founder of the Claycomb ACCademy, a nonprofit “financial literacy academy educating children and adults on financial skills to help them be successful one goal at a time.” (Twitter: @ACCademylyfe, Facebook: @claycombaccademy).

Tom Anonson, Executive Vice President of Class Act Federal Credit Union, presented the award, which Class Act sponsored. “It is teachers like Alex that are making a difference in the classroom every day to help bring children out of poverty with an understanding of financial literacy,” Anonson said. “We are happy to support Mrs. Claycomb and many other teachers around Kentuckiana to help bring financial literacy to their students.”

As Teacher of the Year, Claycomb will represent Kentucky at the Jump$tart National Educator Conference Nov. 6-8, 2021 in Washington, D.C. In addition to a full scholarship to the conference, she will receive $250 for travel expenses and $300 for classroom materials.

Mr. Anonson also recognized this year’s runner-up, Amber Florence, who teaches at the Harrison County Area Technology Center. Ms. Florence will also have the opportunity to attend the National Educator’s Conference.

Student of the Year

The 2021 Student of the Year is Gracyn Cook of Grayson County High School. This new award honors a current Kentucky graduating senior who demonstrates an exceptional understanding of financial literacy and motivating others to learn about personal finance.

Gracyn is an active member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). She is passionate about Baking and Pastry Arts, which she plans to study at Sullivan University. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, she ultimately plans to open her own bakery, “Touch of Grace.”

As Student of the Year, Gracyn receives a $500 award, sponsored by the University of Louisville’s Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development (LEAD).

“A shared goal of our department with Jump$tart is the enhancement of personal finance understanding among students in our commonwealth,” said Jodi Adams, LEAD Career and Technical Education Director at U of L. “Gracie embodies that intent through her willingness to educate her peers,” said Adams, who also serves as Kentucky Jump$tart’s president-elect. “We look forward to seeing how Gracie puts her knowledge to use!”

Dinner with the Fed

The event took place at the Galt House in Louisville on July 22, as part of the 2021 Kentucky Career and Technical Education (CTE) Summer Program.

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Louisville Branch, co-hosted the evening, which included a keynote presentation on “The Role of Central Banks in Financial Crises and the COVID-19 Pandemic,” by Vice President Chris Neely, an economist with the St. Louis Fed’s Research Division.

David Perkis, senior economic education specialist at the St. Louis Fed, described the agency’s resources for teachers and students in pre-K through college classrooms, including econlowdown.org.