Junior Achievement of the Heartland Seeks Volunteers to Help Students Prepare for the Future

Junior Achievement of the Heartland Seeks Volunteers to
Help Students Prepare for the Future
Community members encouraged to bring real-world skills into classrooms this school year.
 
As a new school year begins, Junior Achievement of the Heartland is calling on local volunteers to help equip young people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the future of work.
 
JA programs focus on financial capability, career readiness, and business ownership — practical concepts that enhance classroom learning. Volunteers from the community help deliver these lessons using ready-to-go materials and simple step-by-step guides, making it easy to lead even with no teaching experience.
 
“JA provides authentic, real-world learning experiences, and the students create lasting memories from their participation. In my opinion, I’m not sure I’ve seen a better program than Junior Achievement,” said Aron Kehoe, JA educator. “The students truly believe in the value of the program.”
 
Volunteer Nicole McWilliams shared her own experience after teaching JA for the first time:
“This was my first time teaching a Junior Achievement program. Come to think of it, this was my first time teaching children anything in a classroom setting! I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into. Fortunately, the folks at Junior Achievement of the Heartland made this really easy on me. They shipped me a box that contained everything I needed to lead each of the five sessions, a script that told me every word to say, and a plethora of online resources.”
“Of this, I am certain: you will get way more than you will give! I left after my last session with a heart bursting with happiness and 22 young friends who think I’m a rock star.”
 
JA of the Heartland is currently recruiting classroom volunteers for the 2025–2026 school year across the Quad Cities and surrounding communities. Volunteers can choose from opportunities in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms and receive full support and training.
Interested in volunteering? Visit https://heartland.ja.org/volunteer/index to learn more or sign up today.
 
About Junior Achievement of the Heartland
Junior Achievement is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.
 
Locally, Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Visit heartland.ja.org for more information.