Coach Staggs Receives National Grant for Innovative Teaching Program

PCA teacher Trent Staggs received a $2,000 grant as a part of Voya Financial’s 2017 Voya Unsung Heroes competition for his innovative teaching idea, “Money Life Skills – Get Real.” The program focuses on providing high school students with a curriculum centered on financial literacy. Implementing financial planning skills into the classroom is another example of PCA’s life readiness approach to education.

“Financial literacy for high school students is so important because financial instability is a growing problem across the country,” Staggs said. “Based on the rising number of Americans filing for bankruptcy and college students drowning in student loan debt, this program teaches students the skills necessary to manage their finances and avoid these problems.”

Since 1996, the Voya Unsung Heroes program has awarded more than $5 million in grants to educators nationwide to honor their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and ability to positively influence their students. Selected from a group of more than 1,200 applicants during this past grant cycle, Staggs is one of only 100 winners across the country who received an award to help bring the “Money Life Skills – Get Real.” program to PCA students.