OnPath employee brings financial literacy back to her high school

When Taylor Meyers walked the halls of her high school in Jefferson Parish, she never imagined she’d be back years later, not as a student, but as someone helping to shape the future for the next generation.

Today, Taylor serves as a Community Engagement Specialist at OnPath Credit Union. Through the OnPath Foundation, Taylor and her team help deliver programs that go beyond banking, investing directly in education, homeownership, and community well-being. That mission put her at the forefront of bringing Stukent, a hands-on financial literacy program, to every public high school in Jefferson Parish.

The best part? The official launch of the program happened right where her own journey began: her alma mater.

Why this matters.

Louisiana recently passed a law requiring high school students to take a financial literacy course before graduation. It’s a smart move, but it also created a big question: how do schools actually deliver that content in a way that feels real and relevant to teens?

That’s where Stukent comes in.

The partnership with OnPath Foundation and Stukent is an investment in the future of every Jefferson Parish high school student. Financial literacy is a vital life skill, and this initiative gives our students engaging, real-world tools to prepare for college, careers, and adulthood. Providing this at no cost to families or schools reflects the power of community partnerships to remove barriers and open doors for our students.

- Dr. James Gray, Superintendent, Jefferson Parish Schools

The program does not rely on lectures or worksheets. Instead, students learn by doing through interactive simulations where they make choices and immediately see the outcomes. Students practice real-life money moves like:

• • Building a budget

  • Paying bills

  • Investing in the stock market

  • Choosing insurance

  • Applying for loans

If they overspend, they feel the pinch. If they save wisely, they see the rewards. It is the kind of learning that sticks because it mirrors the very decisions they will face outside the classroom.

Taylor's full-circle moment.

For Taylor, the launch was more than a professional accomplishment, it was a deeply personal milestone. Walking back into the same classrooms where she once sat as a student, Taylor felt the weight of what this moment represented.

Bringing financial literacy back to Jefferson Parish Schools is incredibly meaningful to me. Walking the same halls as today’s students, I remember wishing I had these tools at their age. Now, being able to give them the skills and confidence to shape their financial futures is truly one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.

- Taylor Meyers, Community Engagement Specialist, OnPath Credit Union

In many ways, Taylor became a bridge between past and future: a former student returning as a leader, standing in front of students who could see themselves in her story. 

Looking ahead.

Thanks to Taylor’s leadership and the partnership between the OnPath Foundation, Jefferson Parish Schools, and Stukent, local students will graduate not only with diplomas but with the kind of knowledge that prepares them for real-world success.

The program is a direct investment in the community’s future, at no cost to families or taxpayers.

For Taylor, it is proof that giving back to your community creates lasting change. And for Jefferson Parish, it is the start of a new chapter where every graduate has the tools to face adulthood with confidence.

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