Henry Clay teacher a model for Junior Achievement

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Jody Cabble (center) is the 2011 Teacher of the Year for Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass. Two JA volunteers nominated her: Jeff Vanderhorst of Fitzpatrick's Furniture and Appliances, and Angela Bryant of Unified Trust Co. Both help out in Cabble's citizenship class at Henry Clay High School. (Photo: Tammy L. Lane)

After Junior Achievement volunteer Jeff Vanderhorst spends an hour in Jody Cabble’s classroom, he leaves energized for the rest of the day.

“It’s so encouraging to see how passionate she is with her students,” said Vanderhorst, who notes the high level of engagement and interaction, even with teenagers who have moved on from Cabble’s ninth-grade citizenship class at Henry Clay High School.

Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass, which is dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise, recognized Cabble’s efforts in naming her its 2011 Teacher of the Year.  

Her citizenship students have been involved with Junior Achievement for three years.

“It just gives them a really good way to take some of the core content and academic instruction and watch business people who are applying it in the real world,” Cabble said. “We can tell them things or provide them information. But when they get it from a business person about why something is valuable or important, it carries additional credibility.”

Covering 18 counties, Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass has more than 500 volunteers active in about 800 classrooms this year. Its adopt-a-school program enables companies to partner with a particular school by funding at least 10 JA classes, underwriting the student materials and volunteer training. JA also has partners that sponsor financial literacy programs.

“Learning about our economy and business is so important for our kids today. When you think about the economic times we’re in, we need to have our kids ready to step out into this world,” said Stu Silberman, superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools.

Vanderhorst and fellow volunteer Angela Bryant nominated Cabble for doing her part.

“The environment in her classroom is very inviting, which makes it easier for volunteers coming in,” said Bryant, who helped lead financial lessons at Henry Clay. “She has supported everything we were trying to teach and prepared her students well.”

An Indiana native, Cabble has worked in FCPS for 11 years. She earned undergraduate degrees in history and political science from DePauw University and master’s degrees in social studies and special education from Union College in Barboursville. She serves on Henry Clay’s School-Based Decision Making Council and is a board member of the Fayette County Education Association.

Cabble noted how JA volunteers with diverse backgrounds can present broader career possibilities for her students, from restaurant owner to clothing designer to medical technologist.

“It really opens their eyes in a way that’s more difficult to do in a traditional classroom setting,” she said.

Mary Grady, a seventh-grader at Morton MiddlMarye School, also attested to the benefits of meeting local business professionals.

“We learned how working hard and studying can lead to a good career,” she said at the March 16 awards breakfast. “All the skills they teach us throughout the program are so important and useful,” Mary added. “I was thankful for the experience.”

She cited the financial literacy lessons in particular.

“We’re going to be having jobs within two or three years, so it’s helpful to know about savings and college and cars,” Mary said. “It’s all about where your money goes.”

 

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