Local BOCES students to bring in financial author to teach valuable money tips to children

ELMIRA, N.Y. ( WETM ) — Two students from a local BOCES campus sat down with 18 News’ Brett Mills on Friday to speak about an upcoming event where a financial author and former Chair of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will read to children at several area schools.

Sheila Bair, author, corporate director, and former Chair of the FDIC will visit the Southern Tier on Tuesday to four elementary schools in our area to read her books on financial literacy to third graders.

Her visit was made possible due to a group of students at Elmira’s New Visions Honor Academy, a BOCES honor academy, that raised enough money through sponsors to pay for Bair’s plane ticket, and her hotel stay. As a thank you to all the sponsors, the class will have a luncheon after the first two school stops to show appreciation and enjoy the event.

On Tuesday, April 9, Bair and the BOCES class will go to several schools in the area to read third graders Bair’s books on financial literacy using child-friendly language and illustrations. The schools include; Cohen Elementary School in Elmira Heights, Ridge Road Elementary School in Horseheads, Tuscarora Elementary School in Addison, and William E. Severn Elementary in Corning. After each reading, the students will get one of Bair’s books for free since enough money was collected for the project.

Bair’s publishing company, Money Tales, has eight books written by Bair that contain different financial situations that we see in everyday life that can prepare children for the future. Some topics include money scams, taking out loans, inflation, and several more.

Bair served as the Chair of the FDIC from 2006 to 2011 where she played a role in the response to the 2008 financial collapse.

Bair’s website says she advocates for strong consumer protections and educates the public on financial basics and other financial services.

Bair has experience in not just government but also the education sector as a former college professor and president. In a post she made on Facebook , she’s excited about her upcoming trip to the area to use her books and teach the children about important financial matters.

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