Staff Spotlight: Kim Graulein

Author: Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Published: Monday, 06 Oct 2025

Sharing

Image caption: Kim Graulein, Program Manager at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, connects schools, teachers, and students with hands-on learning experiences that inspire financial literacy and career readiness across Eastern Iowa.

At Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, it’s not just about lessons in a classroom—it’s about creating moments that spark curiosity, confidence, and possibility. For Kim Graulein, those moments are what make her work so meaningful.

As a key member of JAEI’s program team, Kim connects school districts, teachers, and students with hands-on learning experiences that bring financial literacy and career readiness to life. “I love working with students and teachers,” Kim says. “Seeing learning come alive during our experiential opportunities is my favorite part of the job.”

Before joining JA two years ago, Kim spent her career as a classroom teacher, where she saw firsthand how powerful financial literacy education could be. “I was inspired to join JA because I witnessed the impact these lessons had on my own students,” she explains. That passion led her from coordinating volunteers to her current role focused on creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students across Eastern Iowa.

Kim grew up in Northern Illinois and graduated from Southern Illinois University with her teaching degree. She spent the last nine years teaching middle and high school English in North Carolina before moving to the Cedar Rapids area with her family. Today, she lives in Marion with her husband, Derrick, and their three children—Logan, Naomi, and Penelope.

Among the many JA programs she supports, one of Kim’s favorites is JA Our Community®, a second-grade program that helps students explore different careers and understand how people contribute to the success of a community. “I love seeing students this young start to think about their futures and what success looks like to them,” she says.

Kim believes that introducing financial literacy early gives students a foundation they can build on for life. “Understanding needs versus wants and setting financial goals at a young age makes such a difference as they grow into adulthood,” she shares.

For Kim, the rewards often come in the form of student reflections. “I love reading their testimonials after a program ends,” she says. “They remember the volunteers, the lessons, and the real-world skills they’ve learned. You can truly see the impact.”

Outside of work, Kim’s happiest place is—literally—the happiest place on earth. “My family and I love Disney World and take a trip there every year,” she laughs.

Looking ahead, Kim is especially excited about JAEI’s growing partnerships, including the new JA Dream Accelerator being developed at the Iowa City Community School District’s Center for Innovation. “It’s an incredible opportunity to expand how we reach students,” she says. “We’re constantly growing, and community support helps us make that possible.”

Kim’s journey—from teacher to program innovator—embodies the heart of Junior Achievement’s mission: inspiring and preparing young people to own their economic success, explore their passions, and dream bigger for the future.