Quad Cities Volunteers Needed to Teach 1000s of Students

Thousands of students across the Quad Cities are waiting to learn about money, careers, and goal-setting, and they need volunteers to show them the way.

Junior Achievement of the Heartland is recruiting community members to teach ready-made lessons in classrooms across 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois this school year. The best part? No teaching experience necessary.

"You don't have to be an expert or have experience in a classroom," said Lysa Hegland, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Heartland. "Our volunteers are simply people who are willing to give their time, share their experiences and help a student see what might be possible for them."

Volunteers walk into classrooms with complete lesson plans already prepared. They talk with students about everyday topics like earning money, making choices, exploring careers, and understanding how the world works through activities and discussions.

The time commitment is flexible. Most classroom experiences involve short lessons, often just one class period at a time, with schedules coordinated between volunteers and teachers.

Junior Achievement provides all curriculum and materials, plus staff support to help volunteers feel prepared. Volunteers simply choose a classroom that interests them and show up.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond a single lesson. One hour with a volunteer can help a student imagine a career they never knew existed or finally understand why saving money matters.

Sometimes a student discovers a hidden talent. Other times, they simply remember that an adult from their community took time to believe in them.

"Kids don't need us to come in and give them a lecture," said Hegland. "They need people to talk with them, listen to them and help them connect what they're learning in school to the world they're going to enter someday."

As the organization celebrates 70 years of service, it continues building pathways to economic mobility by giving young people the knowledge and confidence they need for life after graduation. Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.6 million students annually across nearly 100 U.S. markets.

Community members, businesses, and groups can sign up at heartland.ja.org/volunteer to find open classroom opportunities throughout the region.

One hour of your time could change how a young person sees their future.