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Staff Spotlight: Kim Graulein
By Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
As a former classroom teacher, Kim Graulein brings her passion for education and financial literacy to her role as Program Manager at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. She works with schools, teachers, and students to create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom lessons to real-world success. Originally from Northern Illinois, Kim taught English in North Carolina for...
Staff Spotlight: Meet Shelby Kobliska, 3DE™ School Coordinator
By Cathy Essick
Work Readiness
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is excited to welcome Shelby Kobliska (koh-BLISS-kah) as our new 3DE™ School Coordinator at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. Shelby joined the team on July 1st and is helping launch Washington’s first year of 3DE™, a project-based learning model that connects classroom lessons to real-world careers.
Drawn to JAEI by its strong culture and community impact,...
Junior Achievement Launches It’s First Industry Recognized Credential
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Technical knowledge may open the door to a job, but skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are what help students succeed long-term. That’s the focus of JA Essential Skills for Work, a new program now recognized as an Industry-Recognized Credential (IRC) by the Iowa Department of Education.
Through hands-on simulations at a fictional company, students practice decision-making,...
Volunteer Spotlight: Niki Davis
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Niki Davis, a financial advisor and founder of Maloney Davis Wealth Management, has been a dedicated Junior Achievement volunteer since 2009-2010. With a passion for financial literacy, she began teaching JA programs while working at Wells Fargo and continued as her children entered Lisbon Schools. She enjoys engaging students in discussions about business planning, taxes, and budgeting. Niki...
Gen Z's Career Confidence vs. Future Challenges: What Today’s Teens Really Think About Work, AI, and Education
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Work Readiness
As American teens stand on the brink of adulthood, they're navigating a rapidly changing world — one shaped by artificial intelligence, shifting views on higher education, and increasing financial pressure. But according to new research from Junior Achievement USA and Citizens, despite these mounting challenges, today’s teens are still remarkably optimistic about the...
Shape the Future: Volunteer with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
At Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI), we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to dream big, plan boldly, and step confidently into their future. None of that is possible without volunteers like you.
Whether you want to guide students through hands-on simulations, help them explore careers, or inspire them in the classroom, there’s a place for you at JAEI. This fall, we...
Congratulations to Whitney Schreder, CBJ Forty Under 40 Honoree and JAEI Leader
By Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is proud to celebrate Whitney Schreder, Vice President of Finance, who has been named a Corridor Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree. With more than a decade of service at JAEI, Whitney has combined her financial expertise and passion for empowering young people to make a lasting impact on both the organization and the...
Students Are Asking: “Why Are We Learning This?”— And That’s a Good Thing
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Corporate Responsibility
If you've spent time in a classroom recently, you've probably heard a student ask:
“Why are we learning this?”
At first, it might sound like defiance or disinterest. But in reality, it’s one of the most important questions a student can ask—because it signals a desire for meaning, relevance, and connection. And in today’s world, those elements are essential to authentic learning.
The good...
Stay Connected to Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
At Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI), we’re passionate about empowering the next generation with the skills they need to succeed—financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Every day, we work alongside dedicated volunteers, educators, and community partners to bring real-world learning into classrooms across Eastern...
Back to School: Are Teens Being Left Behind on AI?
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Corporate Responsibility
As students head back to the classroom this fall, new insights from Junior Achievement reveal a growing disconnect between the skills today’s teens need and what they’re learning in school. In a recent national survey conducted by Big Village for Junior Achievement, 64% of teens (ages 13–17) said they are not using AI as a learning tool at school. This comes at a time when AI is rapidly reshaping...
