The concept that teaching financial literacy in schools changes lives was the recurring message at the Back-to-School luncheon hosted by the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education.
Part fundraiser, the financial literacy event primarily celebrated financial education‘s successes from the last year and people who made a difference.
Traci Ketchum, a Bridge Creek Middle School teacher, was honored with the OCEE’s Economics and Personal Finance Educator of the Year Award named for Dr. Sue Lynn Sasser, who has spent 35 years championing economic education.
Oklahoma State Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, was recognized with the Randy McDaniel Leadership Award, named after the former state treasurer who championed economic education when he was a state legislator. McDaniel is also OCEE’s incoming board chairman. Lowe championed laws that realigns Oklahoma’s approach to financial education for grades 10 through 12, presenters noted.
I also enjoyed hearing from teacher Jason Millican, who had three state-winning teams in the Stock Market Game that he introduced to his students at Longfellow Middle School in Norman, where he is the gifted resource coordinator. The game gives students a virtual $100,000 to invest in real-time markets while they learn teamwork, decision-making and the real-world impact of saving.
He said about 60 to 70 kids sign up each semester to play along.
“They’re studying trends and charts, and they just get together to research where they think this is what’s the next big stock that’s coming up,” Millican said. “But the beautiful thing about the stock market game is it gives them a place to fail. … With failure comes growth, and to me, that’s the true meaning of learning.”
The event ended with a panel discussion on financial literacy in Oklahoma classrooms featuring moderator NaRita Anderson with educators Kala Hester, Shea McCrary, Carrie Hixon and Stephanie Ewald.
Empowering students with the knowledge and skills in personal finance and economics so they can build long-term financial success is the mission of the OCEE. For information, go to econisok.org
From: https://journalrecord.com/2025/08/28/financial-literacy-leaders-goin-west/