From Florida to the Classroom: How Kelli Artley Is Making an Impact Through Financial Education

Image caption: Kelli Artley of BankIowa has been volunteering with Junior Achievement for eight years, helping students build financial literacy skills and confidence for the future.

When Kelli Artley made the decision to move back to Iowa in 2025, it was about more than returning home—it was about reconnecting with community and finding meaningful ways to give back.

After years living out of state, most recently in Florida, Kelli returned to Dubuque County with a clear goal: to build a life rooted in purpose. That journey led her to BankIowa, where she found not only a role in community banking, but a culture that values local impact and encourages employees to get involved.

That commitment to community is what deepened her connection to Junior Achievement.

Kelli has been volunteering with JA for eight years, driven by a passion for helping students understand financial literacy at an early age. She believes those lessons—how to make informed decisions, how to manage money, and how to distinguish between wants and needs—can shape the trajectory of a student’s future.

In classrooms across Eastern Iowa, Kelli brings those lessons to life through programs like JA Our City®, JA Career Speakers®, and BizTown® by Junior Achievement. While each experience is different, what remains consistent is the energy students bring to every lesson.

Before stepping into the classroom, Kelli takes time to connect with the teacher and prepare, knowing that a strong partnership helps create a better experience for students. But once the lesson begins, it’s the students who make the experience memorable.

Their excitement is immediate—and contagious.

Whether they’re eagerly participating in discussions or diving into hands-on activities, students fully embrace the opportunity to learn from someone new. One of Kelli’s favorite moments comes during JA Our City®, when students are tasked with designing and coloring their own buildings. What might seem like a simple activity quickly becomes something more.

“They are so excited to ‘build’ their city,” she shares.

It’s in those moments that learning becomes personal—when students begin to see themselves as part of a community, making decisions and imagining their future.

For Kelli, the impact of volunteering extends far beyond the lesson itself. Over time, the connections she’s built with students have become some of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

She recalls a moment outside the classroom that stayed with her. While volunteering at the Marion Welcome Center during the Christmas in the Park festival, a student recognized her in the crowd and excitedly introduced her to their parents. It was a simple interaction, but one that reinforced just how much of an impression those classroom visits can leave.

Back in the classroom, those connections show up in small but powerful ways—the smiles when she walks in, the eagerness to participate, and even the occasional hug at the end of a lesson.

Those moments are a reminder that the impact is real.

For many students, JA provides exposure to concepts they may not encounter elsewhere. The lessons, paired with hands-on activities and reinforcement through workbooks, give students the opportunity to build confidence while learning skills they will carry with them long after the program ends.

And while Kelli set out to make a difference for students, the experience has shaped her as well.

She didn’t expect just how much students would look forward to seeing her each week—or how fulfilling their enthusiasm would feel. That energy continues to inspire her to come back, lesson after lesson.

For those considering volunteering, Kelli doesn’t hesitate in her encouragement.

It’s not just about giving time—it’s about creating impact.

Volunteering, she says, has the power to change not only a student’s life, but your own.

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate volunteers like Kelli Artley, whose commitment to students is helping build stronger futures—and stronger communities—across Eastern Iowa.