Aaron Standish, MAEEE Class of 2015, recently joined Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), a nonprofit that offers free, modern curriculum and professional development to educators, as part of its inaugural Partnerships Team. In this role, he collaborates with state and district leaders across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions to support the implementation of guaranteed personal finance courses. Prior to NGPF, he served nearly 23 years with the School District of Palm Beach County, including more than a decade as the K–12 Financial Literacy Program Planner. There, he developed and managed programs across all grade levels, led professional development, secured grants, coordinated with community partners, and helped shape Florida’s new high school personal finance standards and courses.
Why is this news valuable to educators considering the MAEEE program?
The MAEEE program ignited a passion I didn’t know I had. It was the reason I earned the district-level position that eventually led me to NGPF.
What did you learn through the MAEEE program that you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
How to design and deliver effective professional development. I didn’t have that experience before MAEEE—and the program gave me not just the knowledge but the confidence to lead.
Describe an important connection made through the program.
The MAEEE community is always there. From seeing classmates at national conferences to getting direct support from alumni like Jen Magaw, Bonnie Meszaros, and Judy Austin, the network continues to make a difference in my work.
Other opportunities provided by the MAEEE program:
The foundation for my career trajectory—from classroom teacher to district leader to nonprofit changemaker.
If you were to describe your classmates in one word:
“Successful.” A decade after graduation, they’re still making headlines and driving change.
The MAEEE program helped me become…
A confident leader and advocate.
Advice to future or current MAEEE students:
If a door opens, walk through it—or at least peek inside. And live on campus. Definitely live on campus.