Smart Strategies for Financially Savvy Youth

About the Module


Achieving financial well-being as an adult is about more than how much money you make or whether you’re able to do your taxes, balance your checkbook, or pay your bills. It’s about having control over your money and being able to make choices that allow you to enjoy life. In this session, learn more about financial well-being and how educators can build youth financial capability to develop adult financial well-being.

Presenter will discuss:

  1. Goals of adult financial well-being,
  2. Three building blocks of youth financial capability,
  3. The role of educators in helping students discover their personal, positive financial habits and rules of thumb, and
  4. Free age-appropriate K-12 classroom resources to help students develop financial capability. 

Resources Available to AAFCS Members Only

Members: To view and access the resources for the module, you must be logged in to your MyAAFCS account.

Resources for this professional development module include the following:
  • Resource document provided by presenters
  • Web Links related to topic
  • Lesson Plan related to topic
  • Global Interdependence in Action
  • Recommended Readings and AAFCS PDU Certificate

AAFCS Members: To see the "View Recording" button and the Module Resources, you MUST be logged in to your MyAAFCS account.

Correlations to Standards

The resources provided for this VPD Module correlate with the:  

FCS Body of Knowledge
  • Resource Management and Sustainability
Family and Consumer Sciences National Standards 3.0
  • Consumer and Family Resources
  • Consumer Services
National Standards for Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Consumer Economics and Family Resources
  • Instructional Strategies and Resources

Meet the Presenter

Leslie Jones



Leslie Jones is a Youth Financial Education Analyst at the CFPB. She is a former business teacher, instructional designer, curriculum supervisor and developer. She advises on the benefits of K-12 financial education and the challenges of incorporating personal finance topics into K-12 courses.

Leslie is a certified business teacher in Virginia. She was recognized in three editions (2000-2005) of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and was a member of the 2004 National Outstanding High School Business Department - sponsored by the Association Career and Technical Educators (ACTE).

Leslie has a Master's Degree in Instructional Design and Development from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and two Bachelor's Degrees: one from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH in Marketing Education and the other from Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH in Arts Management and Sales.