Investing in Community.
Expanding Opportunity.

In Sarasota’s Newtown community, local leaders are coming together to reimagine how schools can better serve students and their families.

Through a partnership with Junior Achievement and Sarasota County Schools, Emma E. Booker Elementary and Booker Middle School will become Sarasota’s premier experiential learning destinations where students gain hands-on experience in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem solving.

For this community, this is about much more than adding a new world class learning experience.

This partnership reflects a shared effort between schools, businesses, and community partners to build pathways to economic mobility. This is a shared commitment to equip students of Sarasota County with the confidence, skills, and perspective to shape their future.

In development with Sarasota County Schools

Learning Experiences

A hands-on simulation where students run a city, manage finances, and operate businesses.

  • BizTown gives students the opportunity to step into the real world before they even reach middle school. Through hands-on classroom lessons and a fully immersive one-day simulation, students learn how businesses operate, how to manage money, and how their decisions shape a community. By becoming CEOs, mayors, and citizens for the day, students gain confidence, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of their future potential.

    Click here to explore how BizTown prepares students for real-world success.

Students make real-life budgeting decisions based on lifestyle scenarios.

  • Finance Park empowers students to take control of their financial future. Through interactive lessons and a realistic simulation, students learn how education, career choices, and financial decisions impact their quality of life. They build budgets, manage expenses, and experience the real consequences of everyday financial choices—developing the confidence and skills needed to navigate adulthood with clarity and purpose.

    Click here to see how Finance Park builds lifelong financial confidence.

A high school model connecting business leaders with students through case-based learning.

Launching Fall of 2026

Launching Fall of 2026

  • 3DE Schools reimagine high school by connecting classroom learning to real business challenges. Students work alongside corporate partners to solve authentic problems, develop critical thinking skills, and build the confidence needed for college and career success. This multi-year model accelerates academic outcomes, expands opportunity, and prepares students to thrive in today’s workforce.

    Click here to learn how 3DE is transforming education and career readiness.

Explore Junior Achievement through a student’s perspective

JA HEIGHTENS THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Thank You to Our Partners

Ready to Learn more?

For information about Junior Achievement & our partnership with Sarasota County Schools reach out to:

Richard George
(727) 430-0965
richard.george@ja.org