Education Grant WinnerShirley Tucker

Who doesn’t like payday? Friday rolls around, you see that direct deposit roll through, and you’re gearing up for the weekend! Of course, financial responsibility is something we all look to maintain—and starting at a young age can be advantageous. It can be even more beneficial to start early for students who face reading disabilities, language barriers, and social challenges.

Shirley Tucker, educator at La Vernia Intermediate, wanted to provide her students real-life scenarios centered around spending, saving, and budgeting, which would give them a chance to improve their financial literacy skills, while also adding a book system to strengthen their reading comprehension. Thanks to Power of the Dollar® members, she was awarded a $1,000 grant in December 2025 for her “Finances on Wheels & Reading to Go!” project idea, which she then used the grant funds to purchase financial literacy board games, play cash registers, mobile carts with state-of-the-art language translation devices, decodable books, and more!

“I was inspired to apply for a Firstmark Education Grant because Firstmark demonstrates a genuine commitment to giving back to the community, especially through its support of education,” said Tucker. “I believe, as Firstmark does, that meaningful change begins in the classroom—where students are empowered, dreams are sparked, and futures are shaped.”

She is on the “money;” the resources she has brought to her classroom have been making waves! From playing games such as “BankIt!” and “Payday,” to practicing their financial skills through mock shopping exercises, to honing their reading abilities through those decoding books, the kids absolutely love ‘em. They’re great not only because it gives her students a chance to have fun, it also has supported their academic advancement, perhaps, without them even realizing it. It’s a wonderful addition that she’ll have for the years to come!

“My students are genuinely excited to apply their financial literacy knowledge to real-world scenarios like grocery shopping and managing a payday budget,” she said. “These activities not only make learning engaging and practical, but they also inspire some students to start thinking about their future careers and financial goals.”