Meet our Teachers + TFCU Winners!
These teachers are some of the best.
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These teachers are some of the best.
This spring, TFCU hosted its “Teachers + TFCU” sweepstakes where we asked our social media followers to nominate their favorite teacher to win $2,000 from the TFCU financial wellness team. You all shared the love! We randomly chose three winners out of nearly 800 nominations and were excited to award these deserving teachers with $2,000 each.
Holli Jones teaches first grade at Stonewall Elementary in Stonewall, OK. She’s taught at Stonewall for two years but has been teaching for a total of 21 years.
When asked about what her favorite part of teaching is:
“Being a kid is hard these days, and if I can make that a little bit easier for them, maybe I’ve done my job.”
When asked what she thought when she learned she was a Teachers + TFCU winner:
“When I heard I was a winner, I was shocked, I was amazed … I was blessed. I was truly blessed.”
Mary Tibbits teaches virtually at Premier High School Online, a virtual public charter school in Texas who provides education for students who aren’t able to attend in person.
When asked about what her favorite part of teaching is:
“That moment, when they realize they got all the credits for graduation and they’re freaking out because they achieved something that they didn’t think was possible, is hands-down my favorite moment.”
Chelsea Graves teaches fourth grade science at Wayland Bonds Elementary School in Moore, OK.
When asked about what her favorite part of teaching is:
“In May, when the seniors come through the elementary school and do the senior walk, it’s just really awesome to know that I may have been a part of that in some way.”
When asked how she’ll be spending the $2,000 she won from TFCU:
“Some of that money will actually be going toward graduate courses that I’m currently in and will be taking. Going back to school has always been something that is very important to me and it’s just been a wonderful opportunity to help me grow as an educator.”
“So many recognition programs for teachers award money to be used in the classroom. Teachers give so much inside the classroom daily,” said Heather Kay, assistant vice president and manager of the financial wellness department at TFCU. “We want our winners to treat themselves to something special outside the classroom.”
Since 2008, TFCU’s financial wellness team has been actively presenting free, in-person and virtual financial education workshops at schools, businesses and other civic and tribal organizations. These workshops help adults and youth learn the importance of good money management skills, with topics ranging from how to set a budget to utilizing financial resources for various life stages and events.
The financial wellness team and the Teachers + TFCU program are some of the ways TFCU lives up to the credit union motto of people helping people, by meeting needs in the communities we serve.
“We are here to help support teachers by empowering their students to make smart money choices for life,” said Kay. “By coming into the classroom as a guest speaker, we can teach about financial fundamentals like setting goals, making a budget, paying bills and other real-world skills to prepare students for financial independence.”
To learn more or schedule a workshop with the financial wellness team, contact 405-319-2598 or TFCUfinancialwellness@tinkerfcu.org.
