JA In The News | Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts

For her dedication to her students and her partnership with JA, which has brought our programs to every student in her school for the past four years… we are excited to announce Heidi Brooks, Principal at the George H. Potter School in Dartmouth as our JA Supporter of the Week!

Heidi is dedicated to her students and wants to prepare them to succeed academically and in life. By partnering with JA at the George H Potter School, she has been eager to have her students learn important life-long financial literacy lessons such as wants versus needs and the role that finances play across the community. She has also built tremendous relationships with JA volunteers from across the region that are thrilled for the opportunity to work with the outstanding teachers and students at the Potter School each year.

“Heidi Brooks is such a strong advocate of JA’s mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.  From the beginning, Heidi understood the benefit of having the entire school enrolled in JA programs.  To that end, she has worked personally with all the volunteers to ensure that the schedule meets not only the school’s needs, but the volunteers’ needs as well.  The George H. Potter School and Junior Achievement are fortunate to have Heidi Brooks in our corner.” – Elaine Meredith, JA Program Director

In addition to partnering with JA to bring our programs to all of her students at the Potter School in recent years, Heidi has also been an advocate and helpful partner in expanding JA’s free financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship programs to additional local schools. With deep gratitude for all that Heidi has done to partner with JA and improve our community, we are proud to honor her as our JA Supporter of the Week!

For his long-time leadership on our Board of Directors, his active efforts as a volunteer, his generous support of our programs and events, and more… we are excited to announce Gregory O’Donnell as our JA Supporter of the Week!

Greg believes deeply in JA’s mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. When he is volunteering in the classroom, he takes special care to bring each and every student into the discussion – knowing that the positive impacts of JA’s programs can benefit each student and our community for years to come. He has volunteered to teach JA Classroom Programs in schools across the region, served as a Business Mentor for JA’s Titan Business Challenge, and is an active supporter of our Strikes for Success bowling event and IRONMAN Golf Championship fundraiser.

Each year, Greg shares his expertise with 4^th grade students at the Edmund Hatch Bennett Elementary School in Taunton, teaching the JA Our Region Program:

“Greg O’Donnell has worked in my 4^th grade classroom for several years. Greg has always been able to establish a quick and positive rapport with the students within his first few visits. Greg makes it a point to try and reach those students who have difficulties in the classroom and make Junior Achievement a time of the day that they enjoy and excel. He always goes above and beyond with his lessons to make them engaging for the students. His business knowledge and easygoing personality with the students, has provided many children with skills they will take with them as they move through their education and careers.” - Taylor Robitaille, Grade 4 Teacher, Edmund Hatch Bennett Elementary School

Greg is Vice President of Commercial Banking at Rockland Trust where he and his colleagues are active supporters in advancing financial literacy education across the region. With deep gratitude for all that Greg does for JA and our community, we are proud to honor him as our JA Supporter of the Week!