Professional Development

At the Center for Economic and Financial Education (CEFE), we partner with schools, educators, and districts across Washington to strengthen financial and economic literacy in meaningful, lasting ways. Our work supports teachers through interactive workshops, guest teaching sessions, and one-on-one instructional planning—always with a focus on practical, classroom-ready strategies. Whether you’re introducing personal finance for the first time or looking to deepen your students’ understanding of economic systems, we’re here to help you build confidence, spark curiosity, and make these essential subjects accessible to all learners.

Workshops

Our professional development workshops are designed to equip educators with the tools, resources, and confidence they need to teach financial and economic literacy with impact. Whether it's an in-service day, early release/start, or team training session, our workshops provide meaningful, classroom-ready support tailored to your needs. 

  • Our workshops:
  • Walk educators through high-quality, free financial and economic education resources
  • Offer practical guidance for integrating financial literacy into any subject, at any grade level
  • Support instructional planning and the development of intentional, standards-aligned curriculum
  • Provide clock hours for attendees
  • Offer substitute reimbursement to help remove barriers to participation

Guest Teaching

Bring economics and personal finance to life in your classroom! Our guest teaching sessions offer dynamic, interactive learning experiences that engage students in real-world topics while meeting standards and supporting your instructional goals.

  • Guest teaching can:
  • Serve as a stand-alone lesson or be embedded into your existing unit
  • Kick off or reinforce key concepts in economics or personal finance

  • Bring real-world, interactive learning experiences to your students

    Sample Topics:

  • Economics: What is economics? Opportunity cost, cost-benefit analysis, trade, and more
  • Personal Finance: Budgeting, saving, compound interest, needs vs. wants, cost of borrowing, and beyond

Team and 1:1 Teacher Support

We believe strong educator partnerships are the key to building lasting financial and economic literacy in schools. That’s why we offer ongoing, personalized support for teachers—whether you're working individually, in a team, or as part of a PLC.

Support includes:

  • PLC & Team Meetings: Co-plan lessons, align content, and identify integration points
  • 1:1 Collaboration: Customize lessons and activities to fit your curriculum and students
  • Ongoing Planning: Adapt resources, co-develop assessments, and ensure standards alignment

Connect With Us

Are you interested in bringing financial and economic education to your school or organization? We’d love to partner with you.

Whether you’re looking to schedule a workshop, request a guest lesson, or explore ongoing teacher support, we’re here to help. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate and tailor our offerings to meet your needs.

Kelli Burton, Program Specialist
Center for Economic and Financial Education
📧 Email: burtonk5@wwu.edu