VITAL POLICY – Focus on Jefferson County CTE Education, Business Management and Accounting
Part One Of Two
Wall Street could travel to Dumplin Valley and take a page from the Business Management and Accounting Department playbook in the CTE Program at Jefferson County High School. They would find a group of students learning some of the most valuable skills in the business world from the best teachers in the education business.
Those valuable business skills also translate into life skills for any student that plans to manage family finances, deal with taxes and insurance, or start a small business. Students that complete a program of study in this area will know what to expect when dealing with legal issues and business regulation.
Local businesses can find a supply of qualified graduates that possess a myriad of office and business skills with the certifications to back them up. It is one thing to have course credit on your resume, but certifications elevate a student’s marketability to a higher level.
When graduates of the Business Management and Accounting Department interview for a job, they are armed with practice and training in the areas of public speaking and job interview skills they gain from competitions and mock interviews. Some students even gain experience in Broadcast Journalism by participating in contests with students from other schools that are organized by their student youth organization Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). FBLA Home – Future Business Leaders of America
This department is led by three highly qualified and experienced teachers, Bailey Sparks, Karen Rodgers, and Teresa Adams. Sparks and Rodgers are featured in this article. Adams, the senior teacher in the department, will be featured in part two of this series.
Karen Rodgers is in her 24th year of teaching and serves as a faculty sponsor of both FBLA and the Key Club. She teaches Business Law (American Business Legal Systems), Business Economics, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, and Business Management.
Sparks teaches Accounting I & II and Introduction to Business and Marketing and her students are active in FBLA. Students are also working towards earning their Microsoft Office Specialist, Excel Associate (Office 2019), and Certification in Accounting I.
In FBLA, earlier this month, six students advanced to state competition in public speaking, job interview, and broadcast journalism.
When interviewed for this article, Sparks commented as follows.
“Teaching Accounting I in the Finance Department has been an incredibly rewarding experience, especially when students start to see how the concepts fit together. It lets me combine my love for business with my focus on helping students grow. In the beginning, many are intimidated by all the numbers and terms, but I try to make it relatable by showing them how accounting is just a way of telling a business’s financial story. I’ve seen firsthand how understanding accounting concepts not only empowers students to manage their finances more effectively but also develops critical thinking skills that extend to all aspects of life. By the end of the course, it’s clear that they’re not just learning how to crunch numbers, but how to make sense of the bigger picture. “ – said Mrs. Bailey Sparks
Students hold their business teachers in high esteem and are often inspired to advance their careers and prepare for college while attending high school, evidenced by the following statement.
“I enjoy accounting because this is the career I’ve chosen to pursue, and this class taught me the basic fundamentals. I look forward to Accounting II next semester.” – said student Jackson Long
A link to the Tennessee Department of Education Course Standards page is provided here. Business Management & Administration
The CTE Department at Jefferson County High School is under the expert direction of Missy Hayes.
David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level.
