For Larresea Goodman, helping students discover new possibilities starts with creating meaningful experiences and connections. Before joining Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland, Larresea worked as an educator and saw firsthand the impact JA programs had on students. She watched classroom concepts come to life through hands-on learning and observed how students became more engaged when they could connect lessons to real-world opportunities. When the opportunity to join Junior Achievement arose, it felt like a natural next step in her journey to empower young people.
Today, as Director of Education & Experiential Learning, Larresea works closely with schools across Greater Cleveland, connecting educators with JA programs, volunteers, and experiential learning opportunities that support classroom goals. She serves as a bridge between Junior Achievement and local schools, helping educators bring career exploration, financial literacy, and work readiness experiences directly to their students.
Some of Larresea's favorite moments happen at JA Finance Park®, where students step into the role of working adults and navigate real-life financial decisions. Through this immersive capstone experience, students create budgets, manage expenses, and make choices about housing, transportation, savings, and everyday spending. Larresea enjoys watching students realize the connection between their future careers and financial independence, often seeing "aha" moments as they recognize the value of planning, goal setting, and informed decision-making.
Another program Larresea is especially proud of is She Leads, a Junior Achievement initiative that she piloted as the first program of its kind in the region. Designed to empower young women through leadership development, mentorship, and career exploration, She Leads connects participants with accomplished female professionals who can lend their time, advice, and support. Through meaningful conversations and real-world insights, students build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and begin to envision themselves in leadership roles. Larresea takes pride in creating opportunities for young women to share their ideas, recognize their potential, and see new possibilities for their future.
Whether she is facilitating a Finance Park experience, supporting a She Leads event, or working with educators to bring JA programming into schools, Larresea's focus remains the same: helping students see what is possible for their future.
The impact of her work is reflected in feedback from education partners. One partner who worked with Larresea during after-school and summer programming at Barack Obama School shared:
"The students genuinely looked forward to their time together. She was patient with them and kind and did a wonderful job bringing them back to focus when needed. I truly felt that my students left JA's programming with a stronger foundation and understanding of financial literacy and career readiness."
Through every school partnership and student interaction, Larresea helps ensure that Greater Cleveland students have access to the experiences, connections, and knowledge they need to pursue their goals with confidence.
Connect with Larresea
Are you looking for engaging ways to bring financial literacy, career exploration, entrepreneurship, leadership development, or experiential learning opportunities to your students? Larresea would love to help. Whether you're interested in JA classroom programming, Finance Park, She Leads, or exploring new ways to connect students with career pathways and community mentors, she is ready to be your partner.
Have questions about which JA experiences are the best fit for your students? Reach out to Larresea Goodman to start the conversation and discover what's possible for your school.
