Volunteer Spotlight: Pat Heyer

Bringing Real-World Lessons to Life

Author: Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Published: Friday, 25 Apr 2025

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Image caption: Pat Heyer, longtime Junior Achievement volunteer, brings decades of experience and a heart for education to every classroom she visits.

Pat Heyer spent 47 years building a career in Human Resources, where her days were filled with training, coaching, and helping people grow. Even after retiring five years ago, her passion for developing others didn’t fade—it simply shifted focus. Today, she channels that same energy into helping students build confidence and foundational skills through Junior Achievement.
Her JA journey began more than two decades ago when a teacher at Trinity Lutheran School, where her children were enrolled, asked if she’d be willing to bring Junior Achievement into the classroom. Pat agreed, not knowing then how impactful the experience would become. What started with one school quickly expanded to others, including Emerson, FMI, and Novak Elementary. Along the way, she’s seen many students grow up—one of the kids from her first class is now in his 30s.
Pat primarily volunteers with kindergarten through third grade. She especially enjoys teaching first and third grade, where the lessons begin introducing students to important real-world concepts like earning, saving, and spending. The first-grade curriculum is a favorite because of the way it builds a strong, relatable foundation that the students truly connect with.
Thanks to her professional background, Pat feels comfortable and confident leading a classroom. The strong partnerships she builds with teachers help make each visit smooth and effective, and she appreciates how welcoming and supportive the classroom environment is. Still, what keeps her coming back year after year is the enthusiasm and curiosity she sees in her students.
“The best part is watching their excitement as they start to understand the world around them,” Pat said. “You can see how proud they are when something clicks.”
For Pat, the reward comes not just from teaching concepts, but from planting seeds of confidence and curiosity. She's continually impressed by the thoughtful questions her students ask and how quickly they grasp ideas that many adults take for granted.
Her advice to anyone thinking about volunteering with Junior Achievement? Jump in. The lessons are easy to follow, the support is strong, and the impact is lasting.
After a career spent supporting adults in their professional lives, Pat now finds purpose in preparing young students for the future—and she’s making every moment count.