The Catskill Chronicle

Lori Rubinstein-Fleck (front row – 3^rd from left), a guest lecturer at a Monticello Academy of Finance class, shown here with student entrepreneurs.

MONTICELLO – Recently, Monticello Academy of Finance Advisory Board Member and Founder/Creative Director of RubyFlecks Creative Consulting, Lori Rubinstein-Fleck, visited a Monticello AOF class to guest lecture about the power and importance of strong public relations and well-placed press releases.

The students of the Monticello AOF class are taking this information to create their own press releases to advertise the VITA program where students use their skills as newly-certified tax preparers to provide low to mid-income families FREE tax preparation.

The Monticello High School Academy of Finance is a two-year program that students apply to at the end of tenth grade. This program is a member program of the National Academy Foundation which was founded in New York City by a partnership of schools and the financial services business. There are approximately 300 Academy programs in the United States.

The Academy works with local businesses and both education and government leaders to design and offer financial education opportunities for Monticello High School students. This includes a comprehensive summer internship.

To learn more about the Academy of Finance or the VITA tax program, e-mail advisor Wendy Levinson at wlevinson@k12mcsd.net or visit the National Academy Foundation (NAF) website at www.naf.org.