Association Update continued

The Invest program educates high school and college students about insurance and the wide variety of careers in the industry. For more than 50 years, Invest volunteers have been in the classroom dispelling the age old myth that the insurance industry is old, boring and doesn’t lead to a rewarding career. Through a hands-on education approach with a variety of lessons students get an idea of what the insurance industry really is — a rewarding and lucrative profession that allows individuals to make a difference.

In the classroom, students learn about risk management, auto, homeowner, life and health insurance in an interactive environment. They get to run their own business, sell and service insurance policies in a mock setting.

Invest connects insurance professionals with teachers as part of a unique insurance and business curriculum for students. Volunteers visit the classroom to teach students about insurance and share their real-life experiences. The commitment level of a volunteer is determined by you and the teacher. You may speak once a semester to students in the classroom, work with the teacher to help plan the schedule or host a job shadow day.

By volunteering in the classroom, you have an opportunity to gain highly qualified employees.

Hale insurance sent their newest employees to INVEST Boot Camp and are very pleased with the results. Teresa Durham, Insurors Insurance and Education Specialist, was pleased to present Kelsie Southerland (top photo) and Sarah Hart-Hale (bottom photo) of Hale Insurance with a gift card and certificate of completion.

"I found the course very interesting. The terminology was super helpful and it helped digest all the information needed to start a career in insurance" said Kelsie. Sarah added, "Since I had been working in the agency for just two weeks when I started the Invest Program, it really helped me learn the language and terminology of the insurance business to make me more comfortable.”

To participate in INVEST contact Teresa at the Insurors office.

Teresa Durham, Insurors Insurance and Education Specialist, has been involved with Metro Nashville Public Schools Project PENCIL introducing students to the many opportunities a career in insurance could provide as they explore their future career options.

Project PENCIL connects businesses with Metro Nashville Pubic Schools, making it easier for them to make an impact. To date, PENCIL has partnered with 820 businesses, universities and faith based organizations so that they can actively engage in the public schools and provide students with the support and resource they need to succeed.

With business community support, the organization has raised $2.95M to provide needed supplies as well as created mentoring opportunities, carrier workshops, field trips and job shadowing. Teresa has represented Insurors of Tennessee by attending career workshops at local high schools, networking with the kids and answering their questions about insurance industry career opportunities.

Why would you and your agency get involved?

Getting involved is one of the best ways to positively impact local students. Businesses partner with schools to provide tutoring, mentorships, and job shadow experiences so students can connect the classroom to real-world opportunities.

To be its best, public education needs local community involvement and leadership. By partnering, you can positively impact our industry by attracting students to learn more about insurance and encouraging insurance as a career path. Perhaps you even create a relationship that turns into the future perfect hire as a student graduates.

How do you get involved?

Contact Teresa for more information and opportunities through Insurors of Tennessee, or you can contact the organization directly at www.pencilforschools.org. u

We’re right here to do more.

To help support both your physical and mental health while giving back to our communities is to go beyond what is expected from a health insurance company. And that’s exactly why we do it.