“Financial topics learned in high school give students a foundation for when they become adults,” Steven Novosel said.
Steven Novosel’09 is helping students learn crucial financial literacy skills. Novosel is an applied mathematics alumnus and a former student assistant men’s basketball coach at Ship. He earned his master’s in education from Eastern University in 2014 and is now a secondary math teacher and varsity boys’ basketball coach at Northeast High School in Philadelphia.
Novosel is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement to implement personal finance into high schools’ curriculum, sharing how he is already seeing the benefit that his students are receiving from learning about financial literacy: “The biggest changes I’ve seen from students so far are changing purchasing patterns and being more intentional around building a savings account,” he said.
This graduation requirement was signed into Pennsylvania law in 2023, and allows students to use financial literacy credit toward math, social studies, business and/or family and consumer science requirements. Novosel believes that the versatility and real-world application of financial literacy make it a valuable course for students.
“Financial literacy is a bridge between math and social studies,” he said. “Using topics in math, in particular algebra, to understand patterns, trends, and analyze data. Then combine that with understanding historical trends and learning about how different events have impacted personal finances and the economy.”
For students who are preparing to take a financial literacy course, Novosel offered some words of wisdom: “Be a sponge and try to apply concepts you are learning into your own experiences. It’s OK to take some risks. Open a brokerage account and experiment with investing small amounts of money. Find books to read or podcasts to follow to hear current and relevant information.”
Reflecting on when he was entering adulthood, Novosel said he felt “forced to learn how to budget through circumstances and fear of debt.” He added, “Had I taken a financial literacy course and received some of the tools that I teach, I certainly would’ve made different financial decisions. I would’ve built an emergency fund and invested (even small amounts) sooner.”
Beyond his work as an educator, Novosel has always been dedicated to service. With over 23 years in the PA Air National Guard, he is grateful to the military for helping to finance his education and shaping his view on finances. “That decision has certainly played a significant role in having some financial flexibility as an adult,” he said.
Through Novosel’s service as a teacher, coach and veteran, he believes in helping others and setting them up for success, especially when it comes to financial literacy. “Taking a financial literacy class in high school will not make you an expert,” he said. “It will provide you with exposure and foundational understandings to get yourself thinking and starting on a better foot when it comes to finances.”
Novosel expressed his gratitude to Ship and how he feels privileged to work as an educator, coach and “for the opportunity to give back and help others.”
