Farmington

FHS economics teacher wins statewide award

By David Wallace
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Deb Jacques Farmington High School teacher Kathryn Gustafson is the Michigan Council on Economic Education’s 2011 Economic Educator of the Year. Photo by Deb Jacques Farmington High School teacher Kathryn Gustafson is the Michigan Council on Economic Education’s 2011 Economic Educator of the Year.

FARMINGTON — Farmington High School economics teacher Katy Gustafson’s students didn’t know, prior to an interview last week, that their teacher was named the 2011 Economic Educator of the Year.

Gustafson said she appreciates awards, but the students are there to learn, not be concerned about an award.

The Michigan Council on Economic Education, which serves about 1,500 teachers statewide, gave the award to Gustafson during the fifth annual Michigan Economic Summit Dinner at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago-Detroit Branch Oct. 17.

The MCEE formed in 1979, and endorses programs and activities that promote economic literacy.

“At Farmington High School, Katy works with students to promote a well-rounded economic education. Her focus on economics, entrepreneurship and personal finance has made the topic of economics come alive for her students,” said Assistant Superintendent Catherine Cost.

“She has done a lot of work over the summers with the Michigan Council on Economic Education, (and) also works with other districts in training their teachers and staff how to incorporate economics in their classrooms,” said Cost.

State Rep. Vicki Barnett, a financial planner by trade, attended the Economic Summit Dinner.

“This gathering was so impressive. It was held at the Detroit branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, the guest speaker was the president of the Chicago Fed, and the room was full of people who understand financial literacy and financial education, and out of the entire universe of people who could be given this particular award, it came here because of the work that Katy does,” said Barnett.

“I get excited over finance, but most people don’t get as excited as I do, really, over reading a stock page. But Katy makes people get excited about it, and it is so important to recognize her for what she does and for the prestige that she gave an already prestigious public school district,” Barnett said.

Ninth-graders Taylor Spear, Anu Emmandi, Marcus Gurnee, Timothy Burnes, Anthony Doa and Joe Kiels — economics is a required class — spoke enthusiastically about supply and demand, gross domestic product, and fiscal and monetary policy last week. They know they’re learning something important.

“Especially because there’s a recession right now, it helps to understand everything that’s happening in the news. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know, like, half of what was going on,” said Emmandi.

Gustafson credited the MCEE and the Foundation for Teaching Economics with helping her make the topic interesting.

“I’ve been able to go and learn about different games and simulations, and really, ways to take an abstract idea or concept and make it understandable and tangible to ninth-graders,” said Gustafson.

One game the students have been playing concerns the stock market. They were given a virtual $100,000 to invest, and they picked stocks important to them, like Apple and Under Armour.

They have a new appreciation and respect for the market.

“It’s really risky,” said Gurnee.

“It’s hard to predict. You have to do a lot of research,” said Emmandi, who lamented a virtual $40,000 loss.

The students agreed that they would take a more advanced economics class at the school, especially if Gustafson taught it. They said she is always in a good mood, never gets angry and talks to them like a friend as well as a teacher.

At the Farmington Public Schools Board of Education meeting Nov. 1, the board gave Gustafson a certificate of achievement, and Barnett presented Gustafson with a tribute.

“I want to really thank Farmington Public Schools for giving me the opportunity to practice economics and to continue to grow,” said Gustafson.

A University of Michigan graduate, Gustafson has a background in political science and started out teaching social studies at Farmington High School. She was told she would teach economics, and it turned out to be something she loved.

“I definitely love the curriculum — there’s no question about that — but not a day goes by that some student walking through my doorway doesn’t teach me something about myself, about life, making that connection between the outside of the classroom and inside the classroom, and for that, I am truly grateful and honored,” said Gustafson.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer David Wallace at dwallace@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1053.