Meet JA volunteer and board member Kyle Baker

Author: Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Published: Friday, 13 Feb 2026

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Image of a man standing in front of a classroom

Image caption: Kyle Baker brings real-world banking experience into the classroom, guiding students through a Junior Achievement lesson on smart money management and financial decision-making.

Kyle Baker has spent his career helping people make confident financial decisions—and he brings that same commitment into classrooms across the Cedar Valley as a Junior Achievement (JA) volunteer and board member.

Kyle is Vice President and Director of Retail Banking at Community Bank and Trust, where he has worked for the past eight years. With more than 20 years of experience in banking and client service, his professional background has been shaped by a strong belief in service, trust, and long-term financial well-being. Originally from Newburgh, Indiana, Kyle is a graduate of the University of Evansville and has called the Cedar Valley home for the past 13 years, where he lives with his wife, Teresa, and their two children.

Kyle began volunteering with Junior Achievement 10 years ago as a classroom volunteer, teaching financial education to elementary and middle school students. About eight years ago, he deepened his involvement by joining the Junior Achivement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI) Cedar Valley board. His motivation has always been clear: financial education is essential, and many students do not consistently receive it early enough to build strong habits. Through JA programs, Kyle sees students gain the skills and confidence they need to make responsible financial choices as adults.

Over the years, Kyle has taught nearly every grade level from kindergarten through middle school. He enjoys the energy and enthusiasm of younger students, while also valuing the way older students begin to connect concepts and apply them to real-world situations. One of his favorite experiences is JA Career Inspire®, where students explore career pathways and engage directly with professionals. Having participated both as a student chaperone and as a volunteer representing financial services, Kyle has been impressed by the level of student engagement and curiosity throughout the event.

More recently, Kyle has facilitated JA Financial Playbook sessions at Hawkeye Community College, working with college student athletes on topics such as budgeting, credit, and long-term financial planning. He finds it especially rewarding to hear students articulate what they’ve learned and apply financial best practices to their own lives.

One moment that stands out to Kyle came while teaching a middle school entrepreneurship curriculum. After learning about entrepreneurs, students worked in teams to create and pitch original products and services. Kyle was struck by the creativity, teamwork, and presentation skills the students demonstrated, calling their final projects both impressive and inspiring.

When asked what advice he would give to someone considering volunteering, Kyle emphasizes how approachable the experience is. JA provides the curriculum and structure, making it easy to step into a classroom. He also encourages first-time volunteers to observe a classroom session or get involved through events like JA Career Inspire® or the JA Stock Market Challenge®.

For Kyle, the impact of Junior Achievement is clear. Financial education and an understanding of how money flows through a community provide students with a foundation for lifelong success—and he’s proud to play a role in helping build that foundation.