Several teachers from Rockingham County Public Schools and Harrisonburg City Schools earned top honors at the Your Economic Success Economic Education Awards, presented by James Madison University’s Center for Economic Education. The event, sponsored by Your Economic Success, Harrisonburg Rotary, and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, celebrates innovative approaches to teaching and learning economics.
Overall Competition
William C. Wood Award for Exemplary Teaching of Economics:
Charity Thomas, Peak View Elementary School (Principal: Chelsea Imbrescia)
Project: “Specialization and Efficiency: Let’s Work SMARTER, Not Harder!”
Students explored the importance of specialization and foundational economic concepts through a classroom Mini-Economy project.
Grand Prize:
Gabrielle Saylor, South River Elementary School (Principal: Kenny Boyers)
Project: “Dollars and Decimals: The Food Truck Festival”
Students applied math, marketing, design, and branding skills to create their own food truck concept, blending economics with real-world creativity.
Primary Grades K–2
First Place:
Amy Evans, John C. Myers Elementary School (Principal: Liza Coffman)
Project: “Kidpreneurs: Partners with a Plan”
Students teamed up to create and sell a product at a school market, learning teamwork, entrepreneurship, and basic economic concepts.
Second Place:
Steve Halteman, John C. Myers Elementary School (Principal: Liza Coffman)
Project: “Learning Economics One Scoop at a Time”
Second graders designed and sold trail mix, practicing math and citizenship while supporting a school charity initiative.
Elementary Grades 3–5
First Place:
Tori Smith, South River Elementary School (Principal: Kenny Boyers)
Project: “Frozen Treat Fleet: An Ice Cream Truck Project”
Students designed their own ice cream truck while managing a budget for supplies and inventory. The project emphasized creativity, problem-solving, and financial literacy.
Middle School
First Place:
Kimberly Dove, Wilbur S. Pence Middle School (Principal: Teresa Shank)
Project: “The Ballad of Buyers and Sellers: An AI Serenade”
Students explored supply and demand through a creative lesson and culminating activity using group discussions, collaboration, and interactive simulations.
The awards recognize outstanding educators and students who bring economics to life in the classroom through hands-on, engaging projects. By connecting classroom lessons to real-world applications, these projects empower students with the skills to think critically, collaborate, and innovate.
For more about the Center for Economic Education at JMU, visit: jmu.edu/cob/centers/center-for-economic-education.