By taking classes taught by teachers Jenifer Zihlman, Amy Jones and Amy Bauer, students at Gilbreath Reed Career and Technical Center can learn to start and run their own businesses.
Amy Jones teaches business computer information management II where students become certified in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Excel Expert, PowerPoint and Access or Outlook. Earning the certifications gives students a better chance of getting job interviews and leads to higher starting salaries. Prospective employers are especially interested in Excel and Excel Expert certifications because it is used in a variety of industries.
“I have students interested in all kinds of employment,” Jones said. “I also have kids whose parents own construction companies and they are excited to learn Excel because they can use it to help their family’s business. No matter what they want to do, the business class will help them.”
She said that many businesses fail within the first few years because the owners do not know the business, marketing and finance aspects.
One of Jones favorite things about GRCTC is that teachers are allowed to try new things and find out what does and does not work in the classroom. She also pointed out that the students seem to have a different attitude.
Marketing students run GRCTC store.
“They enjoy that we treat them like adults and trust them,” she said. “If they break that trust then we take the next steps, but we usually have no issues.”
There are no bathroom or hall passes. Students get breaks during which they can go to the on-site store or restaurant. They are given a time to return to class and if they are not back, Jones said that they have a coaching conversation about what would happen in the real world in that situation.
She said that some students think the business classes are simply three hours of computer work, but that isn’t the case.
“I work hard to make it fun,” Jones said. “I’m working with the kids to improve their communication skills so we play games like Taboo or Pictionary. We also had a battle of the bands where the kids had to get out of their comfort zone and lip sync a song.”
“I want everyone to know that parents and counselors should help kids decide what they want to do before freshman year so they can get the prerequisites,” she said. “It’s also important for students to know that they can take more than one class.”
Her students also learn to create their own resume templates and help other students with that as well.
An added benefit next school year will be that the students will learn to use an embroidery machine and use that skill as a business. They will do small jobs for the public to gain business experience.
The business classes are in the process of being designated as a dual credit class.
Zihlman, who teaches the finance classes said that the district is currently trying to increase the enrollment. According to Zihlman, some of the classes, such as vet tech, motorcycle repair, culinary, EMT and others look more exciting and draw more students.
“When students go by our classes, they don’t see things like dogs getting groomed or motorcycles being repaired,” she said. “They see people on computers and it might look boring.”
She added that she, Jones and Bauer want people to know that business, finance and marketing run the world behind the scenes.
“If you don’t have good business sense, know how to manage your finances and know how to market your business, it’s not going to succeed,” Zihlman said “We want everyone to realize that these are very important classes.”
In addition to accounting, she teaches securities and investments, business management, insurance operations, advanced accounting and accounting capstone.
There are prerequisites for some of the classes, so students, counselors and parents should begin at the 8th grade level to get students on the right path.
“These classes give kids a step up, she said. “It starts their adult life on a different note.”
She added that they can start their first job at $15, $20 or $25 per hour and when they go on to their next job, they have better salary bargaining power.
To try to make the classes fun, Zihlman said that they play games, go on field trips and are involved in community service. Next year, they are going to take some of the kids to New York.
The accounting class is honors level and is dual credit. It can also be a math credit.
Zihlman wants parents and students to know that students are now allowed to take accounting I and II the same year.
Bauer, who teaches entrepreneurship, retail management and advanced marketing, came to GRCTC after teaching more than 20 years at Naaman Forest High School. She especially appreciates the creativity allowed by Dr. Erika Crump, principal and Clint Elsasser, assistant principal.
“The sky is the limit,” she said. “If we want to do something, we can. They are very supportive.”
Bauer explained that her students learn the skills needed to start a business, including how to write a business plan. The retail management students run the store at GRCTC. They get a hands-on experience by taking care of inventory, stock control, purchasing, merchandising, cashiering and customer service, which Bauer emphasizes.
“It’s part of their grade. They have a rotation in the store. There are two cashiers, a greeter at the door and a stock person,” Bauer said “I stress customer service every day by asking them if they said hello to the customers and if they thanked them. We talk about all that in class and have done role playing.”
The students decide what to sell at the store based on market research they do at the GRCTC store as well as talking to students in other classes. They then track the sales. The students also do the visual merchandising, which includes the store window.
Bauer also works with the students about networking.
The GRCTC logistics class goes to Sam’s Club for the merchandise and the marketing students unload it, stock it and price it.
Bauer also works with kids who want to go into their family’s business and she has two students who already own their own businesses. One is a designer hat studio and the other is a natural products business offering oils and soaps.
The advanced marketing class is dual credit through El Centro and the students took a principles of marketing class through El Centro during the first semester.
Students can earn certification in entrepreneurship and small business.
The three teachers agree that the opportunity for students to get to know students from different campuses is a plus. They are able to use their networking skills as well as make new friends. The students say that it’s one of their favorite things about GRCTC.
They also agree that the rapport they are able to build with the students is helpful. They said that the kids work harder when they have a rapport with the teachers.
Additionally, students are given a grade for their level of professionalism every three weeks. If they haven’t been getting back to class on time after breaks or been caught using their phone or not turning in work on time, they are made to be accountable.
All certifications offered are recognized by the Texas Education Association.