State Treasurer Curtis Loftis recognizes Linda Dara of Cherrydale Elementary School as Educator of the Month
March 28, 2025
South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis has recognized Linda Dara of Greenville County School District’s Cherrydale Elementary School as the South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program’s Educator of the Month for March.
“Financial literacy is an invaluable tool we provide our young people so they can navigate the numerous financial choices they experience on a daily basis,” Treasurer Loftis explained. “We applaud the efforts of teachers like Linda Dara who are committed to incorporating these concepts and behaviors in their lesson plans and classroom activities.”
A native of Southern California, Dara has lived in South Carolina for more than 20 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Irvine and a Master of Arts in special education from Furman University. A National Board-Certified Teacher, she is a Multilingual Learner Program teacher, collaborating with several teachers in elementary classrooms to adjust lessons based on the language needs of her students.
Linda Dara
“Students are naturally interested and curious about how money works, making early childhood a prime time to introduce financial literacy concepts,” Dara said. “Learning about money, money management, the marketplace, and basic principles of economics empowers students to make informed choices and develop a plan, so they can become self-sufficient and live with intention. I enjoy being part of a positive and empowering change in my students’ lives.”
The South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program provides incentives to K-12 teachers who are experts in 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 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.
