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Kris Bertelsen

Senior Economic Education Specialist

Kris Bertelsen is a senior economic education specialist with the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, where he helps produce economic and personal finance education materials including videos, lesson plans, and online modules. He speaks frequently to a variety of audiences and conducts professional development for educators. Prior to joining the Fed, Kris taught high school social studies in Minnesota. He’s served on various boards and committees including the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) economics assessment writing committee, author and content reviewer for the Council for Economic Education (CEE), and the Arkansas Department of Education Social Studies Standards Revision Committees. He has served as president of the Arkansas Jump$tart Coalition.

Selected Publications and Lessons

"Generation Z Economics: Today's Teenagers Are Wary of Debt," (with Christine Smith), Open Vault blog, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, August 2019.

"Protecting Wage Earners: The Southern Roots of Bankruptcy Law," Open Vault blog, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, June 2019.

"Cars and Cash: What To Know Before You Go," Page One Economics: The Back Story on Front Page Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, February 2019.

"Great Recession," in World Book Student, 2018.

"Bankruptcy: When All Else Fails," Page One Economics: The Back Story on Front Page Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, April 2018.

"Professional Baseball—Can You Join the League?," Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2018.

"Understanding Car Insurance: Paving the Way," No-Frills Money Skills Video Series #7, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, January 12, 2018

"Insurance: Protecting Yourself from Damage," No-Frills Money Skills Video Series #6, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, April 5, 2017.

"Insurance: Managing Risk and Balancing Responsibility with Affordability," Page One Economics: The Back Story on Front Page Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, February 2017.

"Soft Skills: Success May Depend on Them," Page One Economics: The Back Story on Front Page Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, May 2016.

"Mutual Benefit," No-Frills Money Skills Video Series #5, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, May 15, 2015.

"The Fed’s Toolbox" (with Scott Wolla and Princeton Williams), in High School Economics 3rd Edition. Council for Economic Education, 2014.

"Understanding Bonds," No-Frills Money Skills Video Series #4, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, September 6, 2013.

"Get Into Stocks," No-Frills Money Skills Video Series #3, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, March 27, 2013.

"Ways to Save," No-Frills Money Skills Video Series #2, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, September 25, 2012.

"Growing Money - Compound Interest," No-Frills Money Skills Video Series #1, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, May 14, 2012.

"Journey to Jo’burg: A South African Story," Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2012.

Honors and Awards

National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE) Gold Curriculum Award: Professional Baseball—Can You Join the League? 2017

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President's Award for System Leadership: OMWI Leadership: Bringing Economics to Everyone, 2017

National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE) Silver Curriculum Award: Personal Finance Conversations: Car Insurance, 2017

National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE) Gold Curriculum Award: Tools for Enhancing the Stock Market Game, Invest it Forward, 2016

National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE) Silver Curriculum Award: No-Frills Money Skills Video Series, 2015

AVA Digital Award: Platinum Winner Creativity (Web Video)/Art Direction: No Frills Money Skills: Get Into Stocks, 2014

St. Charles High School Teacher Recognition Award, 2008

Professional Memberships and Service

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Economics Assessment Development committee member 2022

Arkansas Department of Education Social Studies Standards Revision Committee, 2020

Federal Reserve Economic Education Professional Development Committee, co-chair, 2018-2019

Arkansas Department of Education Social Studies Standards Revision Committee, 2017

American Economic Association (AEA), member 2011-present

Arkansas Jumpstart Coalition, past President, member 2011-present

Arkansas Migrant Education Program, South Arkansas Migrant Cooperative (MSAC), 2011-present

Council on Economic Education (CEE), national conference presenter, 2011-present

National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE), member 2011-present

National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), member 2011-present

President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability, 2011-2013

Council on Economic Education Financial Fitness for Life Curriculum, reviewer 2008-2010

Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE), board member

Arkansas Council for the Social Studies (ACSS), member