LEAP Ambassadors
LEAP Ambassadors single-handedly improve the perception of the profession by linking students, educators, and parents to the profession. By sharing their successes, career and educational paths, and words of wisdom, Ambassadors are helping more and more members of their community learn about the value of the CPA profession.
LEAP Ambassadors visit a school in their area and build a working relationship. Throughout the school year, each Ambassador visits at least one accounting, math, or college-preparatory class, typically these classes last fifty minutes or less. Many Ambassadors find the experience rewarding enough to voluntarily visit multiple classes and/or schools, and participate in extra activities, such as career fairs. An Ambassador Wiki! LEAP is very excited about this new tool, which links Ambassadors to Schools online. Ambassadors are able to find schools in their area who are interested in an Ambassador visit or Job Shadowing event. Educators, counselors, and students will be able to go directly to the Ambassador Wiki to request an Ambassador visit or Job Shadowing event. Check it out! LEAP Ambassador Wiki. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact LEAP – leap@mocpa.org.
In addition to the LEAP Ambassador program, LEAP established a partnership with Junior Achievement, in the greater St. Louis area, and the LEAP/JA Ambassador program was created. LEAP/JA Ambassadors go into high schools to present the “Counting on Success” program. “Counting on Success” consists of 6 lesson plans presented to a high school class, during a 50-minute class period. These 6 lesson plans are given during 6 different visits. One CPA could present all 6 lessons, or a team of CPAs could present the 6 lesson plans. Junior Achievement provides their training material, including certificates that will be presented at the end of the lessons. To prepare you for presenting the curriculum, CPA volunteers are asked to attend a one-time, two-hour training session. I am interested in signing up to be a LEAP/JA Ambassador.
LEAP created the Ambassador Library to assist you with your Ambassador visits. The Ambassador Library is an online tool, which includes resource items such as handouts, sample PPT presentations, links to web sites, and much more. For your convenience, all of the handouts and PPTs can be downloaded for print. In addition to the Ambassador Library, LEAP’s web site, www.leap-forward.com, is a great source of information for educators, students, and you!
