How This Indiana Teacher Makes Her AP Personal Finance Class Click for Students

April 4, 2026 - 20:36

In Kristin Lidstrom’s business classes at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, the finance lessons quickly become personal. “They begin thinking about their own spending habits, future goals, and the financial realities they are about to step into,” she explains. Her approach to teaching AP Personal Finance is less about abstract theory and more about direct, actionable application, a method that resonates powerfully with her students.

The curriculum moves beyond textbooks to tackle the financial decisions students are already facing or will encounter shortly after graduation. Lidstrom’s students engage with real-world scenarios involving car loans, apartment leases, student debt, and starting retirement savings early. By using familiar apps and tools to create personal budgets and dissect the true cost of monthly subscriptions, the class demystifies money management.

This practical focus transforms the subject from a mandatory credit into a vital life skill. Students report leaving the class with increased confidence, ready to navigate taxes, investing, and credit. Lidstrom’s philosophy is clear: financial literacy is foundational for empowerment. By connecting every lesson to her students' immediate lives and aspirations, she ensures the material is not only learned but internalized, equipping the next generation with the tools to build a secure and informed financial future.