Teachers Denese Blythe and Avalyn Samuels readily go the extra mile for their students at Petersfield High and South Boro Primary, respectively. They also have one other thing in common — their staunch commitment to help children appreciate the importance of saving. So, when a vacant position arose for a School Savers’ coordinator at each of their schools two years ago, they did not hesitate to accept the role.

“I firmly believe that children should be taught to develop a savings habit from early, as this will help them later on,” Blythe said. “I had my first savings account as a teenager, and when I became a mother, I ensured that I opened a school savings account for each of my two children while they were in basic school,” she added.

Similarly, Samuels, a grade three teacher, believes in the principle of teaching children to begin saving from an early age.

“I always encourage the children to save and I would tell them that it doesn’t matter how small the amount is. To ensure that they save consistently, I have an arrangement to collect their funds at school every week,” she disclosed.

She, too, ensured that her two children opened a JN School Saver’s account while they were in primary school, and credits this early saving habit as helping her now adult children to be prudent in the management of their money.

Both teachers were recognised as the top teachers at the inaugural JN School Savers’ Programme Conference at Knutsford Court Hotel a month ago.

During thunderous applause, Samuels was presented with the JN School Savers’ Champion Teacher Award for her school, achieving the most accumulated funds in the JN Schools Savers’ Programme, while Blythe copped the JN School Savers’ Teacher of the Year Award for adding the most new accounts.

Blythe, an integrated science and human and social biology teacher, successfully enrolled more than 200 new students to the programme at Petersfield High, resulting in the school emerging the overall top school in the JN Schools Savers’ Programme.

A teacher for the past 16 years, she explained how she meticulously keeps a record of all the money that is given to her by the students.

“I keep a book that is designated for recording the savings. As soon as the money is given to me, I write down the child’s name, amount received, the date it was received and if a passbook was submitted. By keeping a good record, I avoid making mistakes,” she said.

Michelle Webster Gauntlette, youth marketing officer at Jamaica National, commends all the School Savers’ coordinators for their excellent support.

“We are very impressed with their dedication to the savings programme. They go the extra mile to ensure that the students save regularly. We are mindful that the success of the programme lies heavily with them. We also congratulate Miss Blythe and Mrs Samuels for their outstanding efforts,” she pointed out.

For her prize as the JN School Savers’ Teacher of the Year, Miss Blythe was awarded a plaque, dinner for two at Rondel Village Hotel and a cash prize of $30,000. Samuels received a plaque, a $20,000-gift certificate and a spa gift certificate for emerging champion teacher.

“The award came as a pleasant surprise. I am glad that the children are saving and I’m excited about the reward,” Samuels exclaimed. The sentiment was also shared by Miss Blythe.

The JN School Savers’ Programme was launched in September 2001 to encourage children to develop the habit of thrift. Thousands of children at the basic, primary and secondary level across the island are being empowered to develop good saving habits.