A veteran teacher with nearly 30 years in the classroom, Salah Borji is teaching personal finance for the first time this upcoming school year. Having taken 187 hours of NGPF professional development in the 23-24 NGPF Academy year (earning the impressive valedictorian status!), he is well prepared. Read on to learn more about Salah and what motivated him to take the equivalent of nearly eight full days of NGPF PD.

What is one of your earliest money memories?

My earliest memory of money was when my father left me in charge at our store while he was away for a few hours. He gave me the responsibility to handle any customers that might show up. I was about 7 years old, and it was in 1970 in a small village of Boulanoir 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Khouribga which is 120 km (75 miles) from Casablanca, Morocco. My father's tiny store sold mainly non-perishables essentials that people need for their daily use. 

Describe your school and the size, location, and community where it is located. 

New Century School is a public charter school classified as an inner-city school located in the Midway area of St. Paul, Minnesota. Designed as a PreK-11 grade program with the addition of 12th grade for the 2024-2025 school year, the school integrates Computational Thinking and Inquiry-Based learning as the foundational overarching instructional theme. Students benefit from a rigorous well-rounded STEM curriculum with a multi-disciplinary instructional approach.

 The student population at New Century School comprises first-generation East African immigrant families.

How long have you been teaching? And what subjects?

I love telling jokes to my students. I told them that I started teaching last century, to be precise last millennium. My first teaching job was a science teacher assistant in The American School of Tangier where I learned English as my third language, and where I received my high school diploma. I attended Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, from 1985 to 1989 with majors in Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics. In 1997, I accepted a job teaching  Mathematics and Computer Science at Universal School in Bridgeview IL.  

Most of my students have been Middle and High School students. I have taught Mathematics from 6th grade math to AP Calculus as well as computer science, Civics, Economics, Heath, and Probability and Statistics. 

What makes you passionate about personal finance education?

The moment I learned the state of Minnesota became the 20th state in the nation to guarantee a personal finance course for high school graduates, I started preparing myself. I was introduced to NGPF via a webinar by Texas Instruments. I was glad to find NGPF; it gave me what I needed to be ready for my students.  

You earned the most NGPF Academy credits last school year - 187! What do you like about NGPF PD? And what have been some of your favorite classes or topics?

I enjoyed every class and every teacher. I would like to thank everyone for a great job, and I would like to thank all the people behind the scenes that do excellent work.  

What are your favorite topics to teach? And activities to use?

This coming school year will be the first year I teach personal finance. The State of Minnesota requires all high school students to take a semester of personal finance to graduate starting the 2024-2025 school year.

I enjoy all the classes I teach, and I have been preparing to have every tool possible to give my students an enjoyable yet rigorous finance class that will help them with their finances for the rest of their lives.

Can you provide an example of how a lesson taught in class helped a student and/or someone in their family make a better money decision?

Throughout the years, I was able to help my children and some colleagues to build an excellent FICO score that allowed them to buy their first homes. 

Do you hear from past students? If so, what do they say about having taken your class?

Yes, I am still in contact with some of my students. Sometimes, I wish I could be in contact with all of them. I have been invited to their weddings. I went to graduation parties, I had at least five of my students teach or work with me as colleagues. My students found me as a consistent and helpful teacher, helping those that want to learn and have successful experiences in class.

How has being part of the NGPF network helped you personally? Professionally?

I am happy to be a part of the NGPF community and to have more than 100,000 colleagues sharing in vision to have our students ready to face the financial challenges of our times and provide solutions to any challenge.

What advice do you have for other personal finance teachers? 

To all teachers: https://taylormali.com/poems/what-teachers-make/

We are teachers where every student counts. Our future is in our classes, and we should take care of them  and prepare them the best we can. And, thank you NGPF for preparing us.

Is there anything else about you, your school, or your personal finance journey that you would like us to know?

I love my school, my students, and my colleagues. I hope to make where I am a better place and a better community where everyone counts and hope spreads.  

As a teacher, I hope I have given my students what it takes to be successful and I have challenged them to be the best they can. 

As a father, I hope I did my part to give my children what they needed, a student loan free when they finished college and the ability to buy their first home and to value family, friends, and community. 

About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.