Madison Reporter

As sunlight streams into an East High School classroom, a bulletin board filled with thank-you notes stands as a testament to the impact of Dr. André Small, a business education teacher. The notes express gratitude for his guidance and inspiration.

For four years, Dr. Small has taught students at East High about financial literacy and career exploration. His journey to teaching began after nearly 30 years in business management and earning a doctorate in leadership for learning advancement. In 2020, amid a nationwide teacher shortage during the COVID pandemic, he chose to transition into public high school teaching.

Dr. Small said, “I could take that pay cut and go into the classroom and sort of gift [students] with some of my lived experiences and my knowledge.” He finds it rewarding to share his insights on personal finance with young learners.

Despite challenges in engaging teenagers with financial topics, Dr. Small strives to maintain their interest by varying his teaching methods. “You can't just talk at them,” he noted, explaining his approach of mixing lectures with activities and discussions.

Jonah Makwinja, an East High junior, shared how Dr. Small's class has influenced him: “Dr. Small is so inclusive...he will discuss [topics] that he knows a student likes.”

The importance of financial education is underscored by Wisconsin Act 60, which mandates financial literacy as part of graduation requirements—a policy already implemented by MMSD.

Beyond classes, Dr. Small advises the school's Investment Club where students learn about real-world investing through holdings in companies like Microsoft and Boeing.

“We're able to share with our young people what will await them,” said Dr. Small on preparing students for future challenges.

MMSD seeks community support through proposed referendums totaling $100 million over four years to ensure teachers like Dr. Small can continue their work effectively by offering competitive salaries and benefits amidst rising healthcare costs.