Crystal Johnson, MAEEE Class of 2021, was recently named an educator specialist for the Minnesota Council on Economic Education, where she supports middle school teachers by sharing resources and best practices for teaching economics. Since earning her MAEEE degree, Crystal has built a reputation as a confident, capable economics educator in her district and beyond
Why is this news valuable to educators considering the MAEEE program?
The MAEEE program gave me confidence and turned me into a resource for others. It opened doors I never imagined.
What did you learn through the MAEEE program that you wouldn’t have learned elsewhere?
I learned to view the world through an economic lens. Before MAEEE, I had very limited economics knowledge—this program changed that completely.
Describe an important connection made through the program.
My cohort! Our group chat is still active and filled with resource sharing, encouragement, and camaraderie. I wouldn’t have succeeded without them.
Other opportunities provided by the MAEEE program:
Confidence to teach economics full time, contribute to textbook revisions, serve on Minnesota’s state standards revision committee, and teach concurrent enrollment economics.
If you were to describe your classmates in one word:
Supportive.
The MAEEE program helped me become…
The econ teacher I was meant to be!
Advice to future or current MAEEE students:
Do it! I started with little econ knowledge and no math background beyond 8th grade—and I loved every minute. The support from faculty and peers is unmatched.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you, Carlos! I still have my envelope, and I continue striving to be worth the investment.