TDCI Sponsors Jump$tart Conference Educator Stipends
NASHVILLE –The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) proudly announces $30,000 in stipends being made available to Tennessee K-12 educators seeking to participate in the Tennessee Jump$tart Personal Financial Education Conference in Gatlinburg June 7-9.
The annual conference is open to financial educators and practitioners ranging from public, private, and home school teachers, to community organization, non-profit, or business outreach specialists. The conference delivers professional development opportunities for personal finance educators and helps “train the trainers” who leave Gatlinburg and enter classrooms across Tennessee with new ideas and strategies to help shape the young minds of the state’s high school population.
“The Department is happy to partner with the Tennessee Jump$tart Coalition to offer services and resources to help educators improve the personal financial literacy of Tennessee’s youth,” said TDCI Assistant Commissioner Michael Humphreys. “Financial literacy is vital in today’s economy and we are proud to be able to provide educators with the means to access the latest in informational resources that this Conference has to offer to shape the young minds of this State. The Department looks forward to the positive attention the Conference will bring to Gatlinburg and Sevier County.”
The Department’s Insurance, Securities, and Consumer Affairs Divisions will attend the conference and provide the latest information on financial scams, as well as other educational material that educators can bring back and help build their curriculums for students taking personal finance courses necessary for graduation. In addition to participating in the formal learning opportunities presented by the conference, Department representatives will also be available throughout the conference to meet one-on-one with educators and others to answer questions about materials and services provided by, or available through, the Department.
The Jump$tart Conference is focused on empowering educators by offering opportunities for professional development, networking, gaining the qualifications to teach high school personal finance course, W!SE National Financial Literacy Certification, high-quality resources and lessons, personal finance exhibits, activities, presentations and more.
To encourage participation in the conference, TDCI will help offset educators’ costs associated by providing stipends to qualifying teachers. As in years past, the 2017 conference gives teachers an opportunity to gain the credentials necessary to teach the high school personal finance course. Participants can register for the conference here. The stipends will be made available by Jump$tart to the first 150 K-12 educators who register and pay for the conference registration by April 30. The $200 stipends will be provided by Jump$tart at the conclusion of the conference upon successfully attending the entire conference.
The Tennessee Jump$tart Coalition is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised of over 50 organizations representing business, government, non-profits, and education who are dedicated to improving the personal financial literacy of Tennessee's youth. Tennessee Jump$tart has been a leader in the financial literacy of Tennessee's youth for over 16 years. TDCI reminds consumers of the following building blocks for a sound financial education:
ABC’s of Personal Finance
A is for “Ask for Help”
Personal finance involves multiple parts, including how to effectively manage personal expenses,
savings, investments, debt, credit cards, insurance and more. With a wide variety of options, many consumers struggle to navigate the financial landscape. Fortunately, help from TDCI is just a click or phone call away.
TDCI Advocacy Resources:
- Start with the Division of Consumer Affairs and TDCI Consumer Insurance Services Section to access educational resources. There you can also file a complaint against companies, individuals or scam artists who attempt to steal your money or trick you into revealing your financial information for fraudulent purposes.
B is for “Budget”
To prevent financial vulnerability, consider setting a budget. Realistically assess your income and spending habits in order to manage your personal finances and save money for the future.
Budgeting Resources:
- Computer software programs can also be useful for maintaining your budget, balancing your checkbook and creating plans to pay down your debt. The Federal Trade Commission offers a free “Make a Budget” worksheet that may be helpful to begin your budget.
C is for “Credit Check”
Check your credit report to ensure the information is correct and up-to-date. Monitoring and evaluating credit history is important because it may also affect credit card approvals, apartment rental agreements, mortgage rates, cell phone contracts or even job applications. Doing so also helps you detect signs of identity theft, which can happen at any age.
Credit Check Resources:
- Receive a free annual credit report through www.annualcreditreport.com. This service allows you to request a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit reporting bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian).
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