Carl Rush of John Handley High School is VACU’s Teacher of the Quarter

Carl Rush, an economics and personal finance teacher at John Handley High School in Winchester, has been named a recipient of Virginia Credit Union’s Teacher of the Quarter award program.

The program recognizes K-12 teachers who teach economics and personal finance in Virginia. In appreciation of his work, Carl won $250 from Virginia Credit Union.

A 1997 graduate of the school where he now teaches, Carl has been on the faculty at John Handley High School for three years. In addition to economics and personal finance, he teaches business and marketing courses and is an assistant football coach at the school.

Carl works hard to make sure the concepts students learn will be helpful in the real world.

“We do project-based lessons to ensure that the concepts are grounded in experience. We invite speakers, listen and discuss personal finance podcasts, and take the students on field trips to local business and banks.”

There are three major concepts Carl says he wants all students to grasp: (1) The importance of living within your means; (2) knowing the difference between wants and needs, and keeping wants in check; and (3) being determined to complete college without going into debt.

“We are glad to recognize these gifted educators,” said Chris Shockley, Virginia Credit Union’s President/CEO. “Financial education is fundamental, and it is exciting to hear the innovative ways teachers share these concepts in their classrooms.”