In partnership with our education and business communities, our mission is to transform the student experience by infusing relevance, authenticity, and practical application into everyday learning, bridging the gap between classroom education and real-world challenges. Through integrated learning models focused on career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, we equip the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to succeed. This mission drives every aspect of our work, from strategic planning and resource allocation to program development and community engagement. Whether expanding 3DE high schools, operating JA BizTown® and JA Finance Park®, launching new workforce readiness initiatives, or deepening partnerships, JATB remains steadfast in its commitment to economic empowerment, real-world readiness, and equitable access to opportunity for students across our 13-county service area. From foundational lessons in elementary school to advanced, work-based learning and mentorship opportunities in high school, each stage of JATB programming builds upon the last. This scaffolded approach ensures students connect learning across grade levels, develop confidence, and graduate with the competencies needed to thrive in a competitive, 21st-century global economy. Our vision is a thriving Tampa Bay region where every young person, regardless of background, has the tools, confidence, and opportunity to reach their full potential, contribute to a vibrant local economy, and build a successful future.

We believe that our children are our greatest resource and JA Tampa Bay has the remarkable ability t

Goal One: Increase the participation in our JA Finance Park program.

Goal Two: Expand our JA BizTown program by adding additional mobile site programs in our more rural counties

Goal Three: Continue to expand our newest program 3DE high School

Our entire staff participated in a SEL frameworks workshop that focused on Core Competencies. Our senior Staff participated in two seven week workshops. One on Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Post Crisis Leadership.

Moving into the 2022 school year with the classroom structure continuing to change to incorporate social distancing, alongside virtual delivery accessibility, we saw our most vulnerable youth further marginalized from the services that they needed. We worked with our partners to continue to deliver a virtual environment that brought new financial and career education experiences to at-risk youth, their families and educators. "SOAR at Home with Junior Achievement" will provided virtual resources including live and recorded career speakers and access to our JA Inspire app. To keep students on track to qualify for Florida Bright Future Scholarships, we engaged our youth as virtual volunteers to review resources and provide feedback, providing them with the opportunity to receive volunteer credit virtually. Our signature programs JA BizTown and JA Finance park were available to be delivered in a virtual format and the 4 3DE schools that launched amidst the pandemic welcomed a second class of freshman and will expand into 2 new school in the fall of 2023. The 3DE model is focused on creating equitable access to high quality education and grounded in competency-based case methodology, students develop critical skills through authentic discussion-centric challenges that promote interdisciplinary connections and increase student engagement, student outcomes, and pipeline economic mobility.