JA in a Day
On Wednesday, January 27th, a small group of Switchonians, representing both our South Sixth office and our Manchester lair, partnered up with Junior Achievement Mississippi Valley to teach the “JA in a day” program to the students at Nance Elementary School in St Louis on Riverview Drive. This was a great opportunity for us to show one of our major clients that, not only do we enjoy the chance to work with them as a vendor, but that we appreciate what their mission is, and want to support that mission first hand.
This partnership, initiated and executed by our President, John “Mr. Kotter” Nickel, and Gerri “Edna Krabappel“ Lashley, has volunteers teach different levels of the JA program to grades 1 through 6. Although the grade 6 students were spared the ham-handed teaching techniques of our people that particular day, the other students were happy to see us, and welcomed us enthusiastically. The teachers were also very helpful and gracious, and worked with our fledgling instructors to help us present a memorable and important curriculum.
It was an eye opening experience on several levels: seeing what a St Louis Public school teacher goes through in a day, a more in-depth understanding of what Junior Achievement does for kids, and realizing that fear of public speaking does not depend on the age of your listeners. Hopefully, the Nance Knights and JA will invite us back. Thank you, Fancheon, for getting us involved in this wonderful and worthwhile endeavor!
Kelly and Jack and their class