Budget Challenge is proud to launch a new blog category dedicated to celebrating the exceptional educators who make financial literacy come alive in classrooms across the country. This year marks the introduction of our Best New Teacher Award, created to recognize outstanding first-year teachers who demonstrate remarkable student engagement and impactful instruction using the Budget Challenge program.
We are thrilled to announce that the very first recipient of this award and $500 is Sean Boley, a personal finance teacher at Bath High School in Lima, Ohio.
A Remarkable First Year of Impact
Mr. Boley achieved an impressive 95% student engagement, a rate that significantly surpasses typical program averages. Even more notable, over 50% of his students earned all six Budget Challenge trophies—a rare accomplishment that highlights their mastery of essential financial skills. He even implemented Plus Investing during his initial year with the simulation. Sean attributes some of his success to playing the Teacher Play alongside the students. He said it is a great way to learn the simulation and it is also a lot of fun to experience it with the students. Sean also credits his four-part scoring system to motivating his students throughout the simulation.
- Weekly Engagement Score: tracking consistent activity and participation
- Performance Score: bi-weekly grading that rewards trophies and strong habits
- Cash Flow Check: a separate grade for using and maintaining a budget
- Trophies Earned: a significant component of the overall grade
According to Bath High School Principal Mr. Jesko, the recognition is well-deserved:
"We are incredibly proud of Mr. Boley for earning the Budget Challenge’s ‘Best New Teacher’ award. His innovative use of the Budget Challenge simulation provides engaging and impactful learning and enables students to practice critical financial decision-making in a realistic and applicable sense. He is teaching our students essential life skills that can lead them to financial success as they plan for their future.
Real Student Growth, Real Financial Confidence
What makes Mr. Boley’s classroom stand out is not just test scores but also the transformation students experience as they gain financial confidence, independence, and excitement about their futures.
Past and current students shared how the experience shaped their understanding of personal finance:
“This program is very beneficial and can help you manage money in the right way.”
"The Budget Challenge had a lot of great points to it. It showed me how to use a 401(k), which I am now taking advantage of with my job. It showed me how to plan for later experiences and how to save money. It also showed me how to invest money smartly but aggressively."
"Budget Challenge is a great way for young people that don't understand much about finances to learn before they actually do in real life. The simulation provides an opportunity for what you will be experiencing once you are an adult. It is good in the long run because it gives students the ability to look at when bills are due, keep track of your bills, and also how to make a budget."
This growth is the kind that gets noticed at home. One parent shared:
“Mr. Boley has had two of my kids in his personal finance course that uses the Budget Challenge framework as the basis for the course. As I have observed, they were both very engaged in the material and talking about their future goals. I have found myself wishing something like this was offered when I was their age! I’m glad my kids are excited to put what they are learning into real life action!”
A Teacher Who Brings Financial Literacy to Life
Mr. Boley’s dedication to creating an engaging learning environment has had a profound impact on students’ financial readiness. That enthusiasm is evident in his own reflections on receiving the award:
"It is a great honor to receive this recognition! This simulation does more than teach financial literacy—it builds financial confidence. The game-like approach, with its competitive leaderboards and immediate feedback, completely transforms my students' motivation. They're not just learning principles; they're eagerly applying them. I'm not just preparing them for a test; I'm giving them a safe space to make financial mistakes and learn resilience. They experience the direct link between daily choices and long-term goals, whether managing debt or building a 401(k). It's here that they learn to navigate the entire financial landscape, so they emerge not just informed, but truly empowered to manage their finances and achieve their future aspirations."
His commitment to helping students build real-world financial habits aligns deeply with the mission of Budget Challenge and with Ohio’s statewide requirement for personal finance education, which he helps fulfill with purpose and passion.
Congratulations Sean!
We congratulate Sean Boley on being named our 2024-25 Best New Teacher Award winner. His first-year achievements set a high bar and exemplify how dedicated educators can use Budget Challenge to empower students with lifelong financial skills.
This new award category marks the first of many stories we look forward to sharing, highlighting teachers across the country who bring financial education to life in inspiring ways.