Meet Yonathan Tadesse, a math teacher turned personal finance champion at Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet in Dallas. In a close-knit, diverse school community of about 500 students, Yonathan helps learners connect numbers to real-life choices and future opportunities. From counting Skittles at the Dollar Tree to teaching financial freedom in the classroom, his journey reflects a deep belief that smart money knowledge can change lives.

What is one of your earliest money memories?

When I was a kid, I loved Skittles! I remember riding my bike regularly to the local Dollar Tree to buy Skittles whenever I could afford them.

At the time, Skittles were 50 cents (inflation is real!). I would count all of my money in relation to how many Skittles I could buy. If I had $2, that was 4 packs of Skittles.

What makes you passionate about personal finance education?

“If knowledge is power, then financial knowledge is freedom.” I have this quote in the center of my classroom, right above the Promethean board.

I am passionate about personal finance education because it is foundational to enable students to make informed decisions about their financial futures in a way that can help them build wealth, break cycles, and gain control over time and choices.

How long have you been teaching? And how many of those years have you taught personal finance? 

I have 12 years of teaching experience. I spent the first five years of my career as a math teacher at W.W. Samuell High School, where I taught Algebra I, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus. For the past seven years, I have taught Algebra II and College Transition at the Law Magnet. I’ve taught personal finance for the past two years, and it’s been a joy!

Describe your school and the size, location, and community where it is located. 

Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet is a close-knit community of students located in the heart of Dallas. The student body reflects the diversity of Dallas, with a large majority of Hispanic students, a significant number of African American students, and representation from other racial and ethnic groups. A large percentage of students are considered economically disadvantaged. Students are drawn from across the city through a competitive application process, creating a diverse student body with a shared interest in law, public service, and civic engagement. The school has a total of about 500 students. Because of its relatively small size, the school offers an intimate learning environment where students are well known by their teachers and are encouraged to take on leadership roles early. 

Can you provide an example of how a lesson taught in class helped a student and/or someone in their family make a better money decision?

This is a text I recently received from a parent of one of the students in my financial literacy class: "We talk about your class a lot. He is really absorbing everything you say. You might just single-handedly break the cycle of poor financial literacy in my family."

I’m grateful to be able to teach a class that has direct relevance to my students and their families every day life.

How has being part of the NGPF network helped you personally? Professionally?

Hands down, NGPF has the best curriculum I have ever used for any content I have taught—no exaggeration.

When I first started teaching personal finance, I was the only one in my department doing so and had to figure out how to build the course from the ground up. After discovering NGPF’s curriculum, professional development opportunities, and educator network, I knew I had all the support I needed to be successful in my classroom.

My first two years teaching personal finance would not have been what they were without NGPF. I am grateful to be a part of this community and to teach a subject so important to our students’ lives!

What advice do you have for other personal finance teachers? 

If you are overwhelmed with all the personal finance concepts you could teach, start small and keep it relevant. For many students, a lot of the information is new to them.

If you are a personal finance nerd like me, sometimes I can have a tendency to major on the minors or go to deep into a topic. Focus on what is relevant to the kids in the next five years and provide them with a foundation to be lifelong learners.

About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.