Teacher Spotlight: Making Economics Memorable For Her Students

From a career in commercial banking to inspiring high school students, one Ohio educator shares her journey into teaching and how FTE has helped transform her classroom.

For some educators, teaching is a lifelong calling. For others, the path to the classroom takes a few unexpected turns. For Ohio economics teacher, Myra Frazer, that journey began in the world of commercial banking before eventually leading her to a career where she could share her knowledge and passion for economics with the next generation.

After studying international studies and French in college, Myra entered the workforce in 2009, beginning a career in commercial banking. Several years later, she decided to take her professional journey in a new direction. In 2016, she returned to college to pursue a master’s degree in secondary education, and in 2017, she began her teaching career.

With a wide range of subjects to cover within social studies, including economics, she found herself looking for resources and opportunities to strengthen her teaching. During that search, she came across the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) online and decided to attend her first FTE teacher program in Ohio. What began as an opportunity to expand her knowledge quickly became an important part of her professional development.

Nearly a decade into her teaching career, she continues to participate in FTE programs regularly, attending both in-person and virtual offerings. She now teaches economics to 10th graders, and has incorporated countless FTE activities and lessons into her curriculum. For her, one of the most valuable aspects of teaching economics is helping students recognize how closely it connects to their everyday lives.

“The world makes sense when you look at it through economics,” Myra shared.

That perspective has shaped the way she approaches her classroom. Rather than simply teaching students economic definitions and concepts, she wants them to experience economics firsthand. Through interactive activities, simulations, and real-world applications, she encourages students to think critically about the decisions they make and the world around them.

One of her biggest takeaways from FTE has been the importance of focusing on the economic principles that students can carry with them beyond the classroom. Concepts like opportunity cost, trade-offs, and decision-making are not just lessons for an exam, but they are tools students can use throughout their lives.

She also emphasizes the importance of making learning memorable. By incorporating FTE’s hands-on activities into her lessons, she has created a classroom environment where students are engaged, participating, and excited to learn. In fact, she shared that former students have returned to her classroom two years later still remembering specific activities they completed in her economics class. For her, those moments are especially rewarding. They demonstrate that when students have the opportunity to actively participate in their learning, the lessons can leave a lasting impression.

Throughout her years with FTE, she has attended programs covering a variety of topics. Each experience has provided new ideas and teaching strategies that she can bring back to her students. However, she is quick to point out that teachers don’t have to use every resource exactly as it is presented. One of the things she enjoys most about FTE’s materials is the freedom to make them her own.

Beyond the classroom materials, she also values the relationships she has built through FTE. Having started her teaching career as the only social studies teacher at her school, she has found these connections with other educators particularly meaningful. FTE programs have given her opportunities to exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn from teachers who share her enthusiasm for economics education.

When asked why other educators should consider attending an FTE program, Myra’s answer comes back to the students. FTE’s lessons help make economics fun, engaging, and relevant. They give students something to look forward to while helping them understand the concepts behind their coursework. For teachers, the programs offer practical resources, new perspectives, and a supportive professional community.

Her journey from banking to teaching is a reminder that the experiences educators bring into the classroom can make a meaningful difference. Through her dedication to her students and continued involvement with FTE, she has found ways to turn economic concepts into lessons that students remember long after leaving her classroom.

And for Myra, that is what makes teaching economics so rewarding.

Interested in bringing economics to life in your classroom? Explore FTE’s teacher programs and discover how interactive lessons and professional development opportunities can make a lasting impact on your students.