My Classroom is a short NGPF podcast series devoted to supporting the efforts of teachers. Each week we will speak with different teachers who will share timely tips, resources, and teaching strategies that can be implemented immediately into the classroom. Click here to subscribe to our blog and receive each podcast, as well as our Questions of the Day, FinCap Friday, Interactive Wednesdays, and much more.

This week, we welcome Debbie L. Savino and Eric Sigman. Debbie is a middle school teacher with Pacific Crest Online Academy. She is a National Board Certified teacher, an NGPF Senior, and Fellow with Financial Education Public-Private Partnership. Eric is a middle school teacher at Cloonan Middle School. He has 20 years of education experience as a teacher and Summer School Principal. He holds two different master's degrees in education.

They will share some practical tips for creating a classroom culture of excellence for their middle school students, and some of their favorite NGPF middle school lessons and activities.

Here are the NGPF resources that Debbie and Eric love most:

• Spent
• Money Magic
• FinCap Fridays
• Video Library
• Full Middle School Curriculum

About the Authors

Brian Page

Making a difference in the lives of students through financial capability is Brian’s greatest passion. He comes to NGPF after fifteen years of public school teaching where he was the ‘11 Ohio Department of Education recipient of a Milken National Educator Award, the CEE Forbes Award winner, and a Money Magazine/CNN "Money Hero". He served on the working group for President Obama's Advisory Council on Financial Capability. He has private school experience as a Trustee for the Cincinnati Country Day School and was a past Ohio Jump$tart President. Brian holds a BBA and M.Ed. When Brian isn’t working alongside his NGPF teammates he is likely spending time with his wife, three children, and dog; hiking, or watching Ohio State football.

Amanda Volz

Amanda joins the NGPF Team with over 20 years of experience teaching personal finance. During that time, she led her students to hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships, won multiple awards, and most importantly, impacted the financial lives of thousands of high school students. Amanda prides herself on being an educational leader and is constantly looking for innovative ways to make the classroom relevant, rigorous, and fun. She is a passionate advocate for financial education and has been a long-time member of the NGPF community. Fun fact - Amanda was NGPF’s first teacher account! When Amanda isn’t working, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and traveling with her husband and two children.