State Treasurer Curtis Loftis Recognizes Lexie Centers of Summerville’s Gregg Middle School as Educator of the Month
October 23, 2020
South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis has recognized Gregg Middle School’s Lexie Centers as the South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program’s Educator of the Month for October.
“As the first educator in Dorchester School District Two to teach financial literacy at the middle school level, Ms. Centers’ dedication and passion led her to create her own curriculum,” said Treasurer Loftis. “Her initiative is a shining example of the teachers who are working to bring these essential lessons into the classroom. We’re pleased that the Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program has created a community of educators like Ms. Centers, who can learn, build and share these skills with their fellow teachers to benefit their students.”
A 13-year Career and Technology Education (CATE) teacher, Centers worked in the private sector before following her heart to the classroom. She first introduced financial literacy as a course in 2015 after having taught an assortment of business curriculums at the high school and middle school level. Centers is a graduate of Clemson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Arts in Education. She also holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Morehead State University.
“Money management is common to every man; it isn’t biased or prejudiced. However, in my experience, the knowledge base for financial literacy is all over the map,” Centers shared. “I believe passionately that the ability to understand and manage money is one of the most important life skills we teach students, and as a Financial Literacy Master Teacher, I’ve been able to share my passion and expertise with other likeminded educators.”
The South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program provides incentives to K-12 teachers who are experts in the area of financial literacy and have a desire to teach professional development workshops to other educators in their schools and districts. Through the program, participating teachers will have access to specialized training and financial literacy curriculum resources that will better enable them to promote financial literacy education in K-12 schools.
Sponsored by Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan, and in partnership with SC Economics, this statewide financial literacy initiative aims to increase teacher support and involvement in incorporating personal finance education into the curriculum.
About Future Scholar
Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan, is administered through the State Treasurer’s Office. For more information, visit FutureScholar.com or follow @SCStateTreasurer on Facebook. No state funds are used to market Future Scholar or the SC Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program.