Name: Dr. Valerie Waldemarson
School: Caribou High School, Maine
Grade levels: 9-12
Subjects: JMG (Jobs for Maine’s Graduates), Yearbook, National Honor Society Advisor
Years as an educator: 6
All about Valerie!
Dr. ValerieAnn Waldemarson was born and raised in Katy, Texas. She is a proud wife of a retired Naval Chief (20 years served) and a mother of three, Kaytlin, Cody, and Landyn. ValerieAnn has a myriad of work experience that started at the Lee County Sheriff’s Department in Lee County, Florida. ValerieAnn resigned her position in 2005 to pursue a position with the Domestic Violence Unit for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Her love and passion for advocacy motivated her to become a Guardian ad Litem for the same judicial circuit. After spending time advocating for children, ValerieAnn found her calling and passion in the Law and decided to attend Law School. She is a proud graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. ValerieAnn graduated with Phi Alpha Delta honors and received distinguished honors in Pro Bono Service, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Bankruptcy and Domestic and International Adoption Law. In 2015, ValerieAnn and her husband Richard moved their family to Maine to join ValerieAnn’s parents after her husband’s retirement from the Navy. It wasn’t long before ValerieAnn was introduced to a phenomenal program called JMG where she advocates for children… her students. ValerieAnn has found true fulfillment in working with youth in Maine and looks forward too many years of promoting financial literacy and college and career preparedness.
Awards and Honors:
Kicking Hunger in the Can Award 2017 and 2018
American Red Cross Real Hero’s Community Impact-2018
Bangor Metro Magazine’s Maine Person of the Year-2018
Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) and
Jumpstart Coalition’s Financial Educator of the Year-2018
Unsung Hero Award-2018
Community Service Recognition Award (1,000 hours)
Presidential Service Award-2019
City of Caribou Spirit of America Award Recipient-2019
Momentum Aroostook-Aroostook Achiever in Education-2019
Pro Bono Honors Recipient-2014
FCSL/Jacksonville Maine-2019
MG Citizenship Award-2019
JAG Specialist Award-2019
Jump$tart Staff: “How do you make money matter to your students?”
Valerie: “Walking into my classroom, you won’t find bored students sitting down listening to a lecture. My lessons are interactive, often involving real world scenarios and hands-on activities. I bring concepts of financial literacy to life, providing students opportunities to participate within the community. Some examples include working the school concession at sporting events, working at the local recreation center, putting on Christmas and Halloween events for the community, and volunteering at the Caribou Marathon. At every opportunity, I bring the community into my classroom, inviting representatives from local businesses to teach students important financial lessons. Through incorporation of projects, often involving multimedia modalities, community service, and real-life tasks, students are being prepared for future career success and having fun in the process.”
Jump$tart Staff: “What is the financial education requirement in your state?”
Valerie: “There is no requirement in Maine.”
Jump$tart Staff: “What are your go-to resources for teaching personal finance?”
Valerie: “These are my favorite!”
- Next Gen Personal Finance
- JumpStart Clearinghouse
Jump$tart Staff: How does the NEC effect your teaching?
Valerie: “The NEC is the BEST conference I have ever attended! Every year that I have been able to go I come home with resources that I can use and implement immediately…and I do! Meeting people with similar passions also empowers me to grow in my career and be a better teacher every year for my students.”
