Boundless Futures through Education - Junior Achievement of Western PA

Contact Your Local Office

Your local Junior Achievement (JA) office is here to support you — connecting you with tools and opportunities that make the greatest impact for your students.

JA Northeastern PA
Tesha Rushton | Director of Education
Tesha.rushton@ja.org

JA Southeastern PA
Laura Yohe | Vice President, Learning Experiences
laura.yohe@ja.org

JA South Central PA
Judy Baumgardner | Director of Educational Development
jbaumgardner@jascpa.org

JA Western PA
Toni W. Schlieper | Strategic Director of Education
tschlieper@jawesternpa.org

Relevant, Impactful, and
Ready for Financial Success

JA Financial Literacy® (PA) equips students with the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions that shape their confidence, independence, and future choices, while providing educators with a free, turnkey, project-based solution.

JA Financial Literacy® (PA) Core Strengths

Curriculum Alignment

JA Financial Literacy® (PA) fulfills Pennsylvania Act 35 of 2023 Personal Financial Literacy Requirements with a half-credit course and is delivered through a secure online learning platform, and meets PA academic standards for high school personal finance.

VIEW STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Making Financial Literacy
Memorable and Meaningful:

Experiential learning opportunities vary by region

JA Stock Market Challenge

Students explore investing, risk, and strategy through a fast-paced simulation that teaches portfolio diversification, market trends, and long-term planning.

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JA Finance Park®

Students apply budgeting, credit management, and financial decision-making in realistic scenarios that build confidence and economic independence.

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Leading the Charge in Financial Literacy in Pennsylvania

With 38 states now requiring personal finance education, JA is helping lead the charge in 23, including 6 with custom courses and 17 exploring strategic partnerships. In PA alone, JA reached over 200,000 students across more than 800 schools in the 2024-2025 school year.

Our Impact

82%

of JA Alumni agree that they have a strong financial footing.

73%

of JA Alumni report saving for retirement.

83%

of JA Alumni between the ages of 18 and 29 say they are financially independent from their parents.

Real stories, real impact

Empowering minds through financial literacy not only changes individual lives but uplifts our entire community. JA has been tremendous with equipping our Richland students with the tools for future success!
Scott Yarnick, Richland High School

The impact on my students has been invaluable. Through the class lessons, hands-on activities, and real-world interactions, they have developed critical decision-making skills that will positively impact them for years to come. It has been wonderful to see them grow and gain a better sense of how financial literacy, goal setting, and their choices affect their health and well-being.
Ashley Shinsky, West Greene Middle/Senior High School