One team member’s serendipitous journey from technology to teaching

Tiffanee M. McDaniel, Synovus senior learning specialist, was focused on working in the technology industry after college, but life had another plan for her. Happenstance led her down the road to banking. Eventually, McDaniel would teach financial education to children at South Columbus Elementary School (SCES) in Columbus, Georgia, as the coordinator of Partners in Education (PIE) program.

The beauty of her journey is that she’s developed a new love for teaching financial education and seeing others enhance their knowledge of money management. But this wasn’t her dream job by far.

McDaniel graduated from the University of West Georgia with a degree in management information systems. After graduating during the recession in 2009, she had difficulty finding a job in the tech industry. She worked as a restaurant server before accepting a job at a nutrition store. One day, McDaniel visited the store’s local bank and was inspired to apply for a teller position. This was her first job at a bank, and the rest, as she says, is history.

After 13 years in banking, including eight at Synovus, McDaniel loves her role as a learning specialist that allows her to incorporate her giving and helpful personality into the job. “A few years ago, someone saw something in me that I didn’t even know was there. They said, ‘I think you would be great training people’,” McDaniel recalls. “I was shocked, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Once I got into this role, a lot of things started to fall right into place.”

McDaniel now leads the volunteer group of Synovus team members who dedicate numerous hours to PIE. In 2023, PIE won the Partnership of the Year award for their outstanding work with SCES.

Dawn Jenkins, SCES principal, is proud of the long-standing partnership that the school has created and nurtured with PIE. In her eight years at the school, she says the impact has been wide reaching from the faculty, students and their families, and into the communities. “Not only does PIE enhance the educational programming we provide, but the partnership we’ve created allows us to enrich the experiences for our faculty as well.”

SCES students learn about saving and making smart money decisions with real-life scenarios that incorporate fun topics. “What is the difference between a need and a want? What does that look like when you only have five dollars? You want a toy, but you also want a cheeseburger,” she shares.

Financial questions are tailored for students to consider options when managing allowances, birthday money and more. “They want toys, they want candy,” McDaniel, a mother of four says. “We're channeling our inner child and thinking about how we’ll keep their attention. How can we make it educational for them and still have fun?” The financial lessons used at SCES originate from the curriculums of Junior Achievement and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Smart Money educational programs.

Money discussions with elementary school students start with questions such as, “Where does your money go? Would you rather have your money in your piggy bank? Or would you rather have your parents help when you have a savings account?” The program empowers them to make informed decisions about money, budgeting, saving and investing.

Principal Jenkins says the program's significance for the community being served is far beyond what can be seen. “Our students live in one of the poorest ZIP codes in Georgia,” she shares. “Because many of our students live below the poverty line, one of our goals is to ensure we can provide them with an education that includes financial literacy.”

Because the school is in an underserved community, McDaniel knows the importance of encouraging students to work hard and for volunteers to inspire them with their stories of overcoming difficult situations. Many of the volunteers grew up in the Columbus area, so we can show them what is available to them and encourage their growth.

“I want them to be able to see people who look like them and who know where they grew up or even lived in a similar neighborhood. I want them to see what we've done, and I always tell our volunteers, anytime you visit the school, tell the students what you do at the bank. That's important,” she explains.

Learn more about Synovus in the community and its Here Matters community outreach program.