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Bucyrus Elementary School teacher Scott Tinnermeier does not teach for the glamour or to be put in the spotlight. However, Tinnermeier was recognized for his outstanding work in extending the classroom into the community when he was inducted into the Junior Achievement (JA) of North Central Ohio Hall of Fame during the organization’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and Annual meeting at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn June 4.
Tinnermeier has been educating Bucyrus students for the past 15 years. Since 2010, the fourth grade teacher has been organizing a “Job Shadow” experience for students at the GE Lighting, Bucyrus Lamp Plant facility.
“I wanted a way to connect our learning to the community,” Tinnermeier said. “This is a great program where students can see the correlation between economic learning in the classroom and application in the real world.”
During the 2013-14 school year, twenty-eight JA programs were implemented in the Bucyrus City Schools, reaching 515 elementary and middle school students. Overall, JA has implemented 1,264 JA programs reaching 26,527 students throughout the organization’s 12 county area of operation.
“As an organization devoted to empowering young people to own their economic success, Junior Achievement provides local schools with volunteer-delivered, kindergarten-12th grade programs that foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, inspiring students to dream big and reach their potential,” JA of North Central Ohio Development Specialist Stacey Nolt said. “Each year, the Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio staff selects individuals for induction into the JA Hall of Fame who have gone above and beyond for JA, demonstrating great dedication to their students and the future well-being of their community.”
In addition to facilitating the implementation of the JA ‘Our Region’ program with GE Lighting, Bucyrus Lamp Plant in-class volunteers for all five 4th grade classes at Bucyrus Elementary school, Tinnermeier also helps coordinate a JA Job Shadow experience for the entire fourth grade at the GE Lighting, Bucyrus Lamp Plant. Through this hands-on experience, students not only gain insights into the professional world, but also begin making connections between what they learn in school and the outside world.
The JA Job Shadow program prepares students to be entrepreneurial thinkers in their approach to work. In-class sessions prepare students for a visit to a professional work environment, where they will face a series of challenges administered by their workplace hosts. Students learn how to research career opportunities and the skills needed to land and keep their dream job This program is typically offered for students in grades 9-12; however, thanks to the partnership between the Bucyrus City Schools and the GE Lighting, Bucyrus Lamp Plant, Junior Achievement was able to offer a modified, age appropriate program for use in fourth grade classrooms.
It’s important for students to get hands on learning, connect to their community, and begin preparation for future employment,” Tinnermeier said. “I am very grateful that JA of North Central of Ohio chose me for this honor. It is very humbling and I appreciate it. I couldn’t do much without the support of a wonderful BES staff that are always looking for ways to enhance our students’ learning outside the walls.”
“I want to congratulate and commend Mr. Tinnermeier for being recognized for his hard work and dedication to bring the JA program to our students,” Bucyrus Superintendent Kevin Kimmel said. “This is a tremendous honor for Mr. Tinnermeier, the fourth grade teaching staff, the Elementary School and the entire Bucyrus City School District.”
For more information about the JA of North Central Ohio, please contact Stacey Nolt at stacey@jaofnco.org. Please contact Scott Tinnermeier at stinnermeier@bucyrusschools.org to learn more about the JA programs at Bucyrus Elementary School.