State Treasurer Curtis Loftis Recognizes Sharon Fleming of Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary as Educator of the Month
COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 30, 2025) – South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis has recognized Dr. Sharon Fleming of Richland Two School District’s Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary School as the South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program’s Educator of the Month for May.
“I applaud the passion and tenacity which Dr. Sharon Fleming brings to her classrooms for the benefit of her young students,” Treasurer Loftis said. “In her long and distinguished career, she has seen firsthand the many changes our young people are faced with in terms of how to spend their money. Yet the basics of needs being met before wants is a timeless lesson that we can all appreciate, and I thank her for that.”
With over 30 years of experience teaching children, Ms. Fleming is passionate about childhood education. Fleming earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from Columbia College, a Master of Arts in teaching and learning from Southern Wesleyan, and her ED.D in teaching and learning in 2015. Fleming began her teaching career at Timmerman School and Joseph Keels Elementary. She now serves as a first-grade teacher at Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary where she teaches in the Academy of Civic Engagement magnet program. She has served on many school and district level committees and led professional development in literacy at the district and state levels.
“I believe that teaching financial literacy to our youngest students is important because many young students do not fully grasp the concept of money and the cost of living,” Fleming said. “It is important for students to understand that personal income must be spent on basic needs before it can be spent on wants. I believe it is incredibly important to ensure that kids develop healthy money habits at a young age, and financial literacy is the perfect way to teach them.”
The South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program provides incentives to K-12 teachers who are experts in the area of financial literacy and have a desire to teach professional development workshops to other educators in their schools and districts. Through the program, participating teachers have access to specialized training and financial literacy curriculum resources that better enable them to promote financial literacy education in K-12 schools.
Sponsored by Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan, and in partnership with SC Economics, this statewide financial literacy initiative aims to increase teacher support and involvement in incorporating personal finance education into the curriculum.
About Future Scholar
Future Scholar, South Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan, is administered through the State Treasurer’s Office. For more information, visit FutureScholar.com or follow @SCStateTreasurer on Facebook. Future Scholar is self-supported and does not receive taxpayer funding
