ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA Vice Chair JoAnn Johnson is no stranger to the classroom having been a schoolteacher in her native Iowa. Johnson returned to her roots last week when she participated in the "Money on the Bookshelf" financial literacy initiative at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School. She read to the children about basic financial concepts such as resources, decision-making, and goal setting. State Department Federal Credit Union, which partners with the school to assist in educating 1st and 2nd graders on financial basics, sponsors the initiative. The curriculum was developed in 1997 by the Nevada Cooperative Extension Service and is currently being used by the Virginia Cooperative Extension in the Northern Virginia area. "As children learn their A-B-C's and count 1-2-3, it is important to instill solid values on the basics of financial literacy at a young age," Johnson commented. "Building a solid foundation of financial literacy is key to the American Dream of pursuing personal and professional goals in life, whether it is becoming a small business entrepreneur or a first-time homeowner." State Department Federal Credit Union employees are volunteering their time and resources over the next four weeks to teach students at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School financial basics.