From Academy Student to “Academy Mom”: NAF Alumna Reflects on Her Journey Back to School

As students head back to school, we’re celebrating a true full-circle NAF story! Meet LaTara Meyers, a proud NAF alumna, who is now shaping the future as an Academy of Finance lead teacher in Washington, DC. From participating in a NAF academy as a student to inspiring the next generation in the classroom, LaTara’s journey highlights the lifelong impact of career-connected learning and the power of NAF’s network.

Question: You are a NAF alumna and now a beloved NAF educator. Tell us about your experience as a student.

Answer: I attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School in New York City and was the second NAF cohort to graduate from the Academy of Finance. I heard about the academy, and the fact that you had the opportunity to intern on Wall Street, and knew I wanted to enroll! I loved accounting and learning about stocks and bonds and believed one day I would be the comptroller for the State of New York. However, when I went to college, I began to feel as though a public accounting career might not be exciting enough for me and I wondered if I could be like the teachers I had at NAF, who were so involved and dynamic with their students.

I switched to a business education program and even though my teachers advised me on the financial implications of choosing education over accounting, I knew I wanted to be in the classroom.

Q: And then, you began your career in Washington, DC. How did that chapter begin?

A: Working in DC Public Schools enabled me to expand my passion for education and led me to where I am today with NAF, as the Academy of Finance lead teacher at H.D. Woodson Senior High School. When NAF first came to my school, we had an Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Information Technology, and I went to my principal and proposed starting the Academy of Finance. He put in the application for the academy. My coworkers asked if I wanted to be the director of the program, but I had to decline because my heart is in the classroom and I wanted to grow the program academically.

Q: Tell us about your experience launching the academy.

A: The first cohort for the Academy of Finance matriculated in the fall of 2020, so we had to start the academy virtually. We had open virtual meetings for students, so that there could be unstructured conversation and the students could stay connected to the community. We encouraged students to pick up meals on campus, so we could let them know we were going to go above and beyond for them during this difficult time. We also finagled our budget to be able to provide NAF swag; a symbol that we weren’t going anywhere and we wanted everyone to succeed in our finance program.

Q: You self-describe as an Academy Mom – what does that mean to you and what role do you think it plays in the students’ learning experience?

A: I try to make my room their home; I can put their coats in a locker for them. I have open lunch, because not all students want to be in big spaces like the cafeteria.

When we have lunch, we don’t have idle discussions. I believe in active engagement; I ask about college, jobs, and resume writing. If they are unsure about a career trajectory, I will ask them to look into careers, find out how much they pay, what kind of training is required, etc. I’m imparting what someone else imparted to me when I was in my NAF academy.

Q: What are your favorite events or traditions within the Academy of Finance?

A: We have the Labor Federal Credit Union come in and discuss credit. They also encourage the students to set up their very own bank account. We discourage payment apps such as CashApp and, as a part of the broad-based skill-building NAF champions, expose the students to the pitfalls of non-traditional banking.

At the beginning of the school year, I love hearing about how my students found their summer internships. Even hearing them talk about what it’s like to dress up in business clothes every day—I love being able to experience those “firsts” through their eyes.

Q: What are you most looking forward to this school year?

A: I like to see the 10th graders come, 9th graders are kind of sequestered, so I love seeing the newness of their faces and the curiosity about what they are about to engage in and develop. Every year I take a picture of my 9th graders and save the images to show them when they are 12th graders, so that they can witness their transformation. It blows them away!

For more back-to-school spotlights, follow @NAFCareerAcads on social media!