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Sparking the entrepreneurial spirit in Keokuk high students
by diane vance /gate city staff writer
One way to grow more jobs in the region is to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in residents beginning at a young age.
A group of Keokuk educators and business owners met Tuesday with Dawn Bowlus, student activities and outreach coordinator at the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa, to learn how to foster the growth of that spirit.
For an hour, participants discussed school curriculum options, lower numbers of Keokuk High School students enrolled in business classes and brainstormed ideas that would encourage students to think in terms of creativity and innovation.
Ideas for business and the steps to organize, start-up and run a business should be taught across the curriculum spectrum, not just to students in business classes, said Bowlus.
"We find students want to think in the hypothetical," she said. "They'll talk about the big idea in a distant city in the future. We encourage them to think of the skills they have now, and turn them into a financial resource."
Keokuk High School is already registering students for fall classes according to Career Pathways, said Julia Logan, school board president.
"We're just starting to change the way we look at curriculum," she said. "Students will be grouped by interests, not abilities. For instance, in the science/medical field, there will be students interested in lab technology, nursing, doctors, etc. It's just getting off the ground next year.
"High school students think some of their classes are irrelevant. Now we're offering dual credit classes through the college. Having medical terminology and CNA classes at the high school, we have more kids interested in nursing than ever. If more students could job shadow at a business they show an interest in, it would be good."
Students do get some lessons from the freshman transitions class and community programs.
At Keokuk's annual Ethical Decision Making Seminar for area high school juniors, business leaders were asked to talk about the job interview process.
"It was the part of the day when everyone was paying attention," said David Wendt, director of students services at KHS.
The Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce has a goal to partner with local businesses to get students out into businesses, said Katie O'Brien, executive director.
"Keokuk has a long history of entrepreneurs," said Chuck Betts, executive director of the Center for Business and Industry Services, Southeastern Community College. "We have resources to help and support. The Center for Business and Industry is always available. We have Smart Start and Fast Track. We're wanting to start a business accelerator in Southeast Iowa."
In October, SCC joined with six entities to form the Southeast Iowa Regional Consortium for the purpose of fostering entrepreneurship, responding to businesses' and industries' workforce issues and to share regional data.
"The Consortium would like to host an entrepreneurial conference each year," said Betts. "It would be great to have students attend with a local business person.
"We need to string together the resources available and identify those who can benefit from them."
Carol Betts, owner and operator of a small business, Courtyard Books & Antiques, in Keokuk, said it takes a certain mind-set to start a business.
"It's intimidating," she said. "You don't know how to jump from a career into owning your own business."
That's why schools need to inspire students in middle school and high school with creative and innovative projects, said Bowlus. Entrepreneurship can be taught.
"We have a lot of students who've had setbacks in life and have very low self-esteem," said Logan. "For example, they may want to start a small landscaping business but have no idea where or how to start. It will take an incredible amount of hand-holding. These students need to experience small successes to be able to move forward."
Bowlus suggested many schools have a student-run store or business that gives encouragement, successes and hands-on experiences for students.
"It's hard to get students to focus on today," said Carolyn Harryman, marketing teacher at KHS. "At my last school, we ran a school store. It gives kids a real experience and they realize how important it is to have these skills."
Students already have many skills they may not realize, said Bowlus. Students are adept at using computers, can create Web sites and use technology, then may get a job at a local fast-food restaurant and not use those skills.
"As a business owner, I'd be willing to have classes visit my store, do some hands-on training and build their self-esteem," said Debbie Daughtry, owner of Bab's Boutique in River City Mall, Keokuk.
Students are required to have more and more core classes and electives get squeezed out, said Logan. If students are also involved with band and chorus, there are no extra hours.
"I don't know where we'd squeeze out an extra hour," agreed Wendt.
That's where training teachers to integrate entrepreneurship across the curriculum comes in, said Bowlus.
Carol Betts suggested a community brochure be produced with written profiles of area businesses and how they started, what resources were used, the steps, the sparks and the set-backs to starting a business.
Daughtry suggested a mock job fair for students with local businesses having interviews on the spot.
Bowlus offered the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center can host teacher training on site in Keokuk or at the university.
Jim Boyd owner of Big River Box also attended Tuesday's meeting.
O'Brien organized the meeting after hearing Bowlus speak at a Leadership Iowa conference.
The next step will be to compile a list of current resources then to follow up on some of the ideas presented, said O'Brien.
A group of Keokuk educators and business owners met Tuesday with Dawn Bowlus, student activities and outreach coordinator at the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa, to learn how to foster the growth of that spirit.
For an hour, participants discussed school curriculum options, lower numbers of Keokuk High School students enrolled in business classes and brainstormed ideas that would encourage students to think in terms of creativity and innovation.
Ideas for business and the steps to organize, start-up and run a business should be taught across the curriculum spectrum, not just to students in business classes, said Bowlus.
"We find students want to think in the hypothetical," she said. "They'll talk about the big idea in a distant city in the future. We encourage them to think of the skills they have now, and turn them into a financial resource."
Keokuk High School is already registering students for fall classes according to Career Pathways, said Julia Logan, school board president.
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"High school students think some of their classes are irrelevant. Now we're offering dual credit classes through the college. Having medical terminology and CNA classes at the high school, we have more kids interested in nursing than ever. If more students could job shadow at a business they show an interest in, it would be good."
Students do get some lessons from the freshman transitions class and community programs.
At Keokuk's annual Ethical Decision Making Seminar for area high school juniors, business leaders were asked to talk about the job interview process.
"It was the part of the day when everyone was paying attention," said David Wendt, director of students services at KHS.
The Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce has a goal to partner with local businesses to get students out into businesses, said Katie O'Brien, executive director.
"Keokuk has a long history of entrepreneurs," said Chuck Betts, executive director of the Center for Business and Industry Services, Southeastern Community College. "We have resources to help and support. The Center for Business and Industry is always available. We have Smart Start and Fast Track. We're wanting to start a business accelerator in Southeast Iowa."
In October, SCC joined with six entities to form the Southeast Iowa Regional Consortium for the purpose of fostering entrepreneurship, responding to businesses' and industries' workforce issues and to share regional data.
"The Consortium would like to host an entrepreneurial conference each year," said Betts. "It would be great to have students attend with a local business person.
"We need to string together the resources available and identify those who can benefit from them."
Carol Betts, owner and operator of a small business, Courtyard Books & Antiques, in Keokuk, said it takes a certain mind-set to start a business.
"It's intimidating," she said. "You don't know how to jump from a career into owning your own business."
That's why schools need to inspire students in middle school and high school with creative and innovative projects, said Bowlus. Entrepreneurship can be taught.
"We have a lot of students who've had setbacks in life and have very low self-esteem," said Logan. "For example, they may want to start a small landscaping business but have no idea where or how to start. It will take an incredible amount of hand-holding. These students need to experience small successes to be able to move forward."
Bowlus suggested many schools have a student-run store or business that gives encouragement, successes and hands-on experiences for students.
"It's hard to get students to focus on today," said Carolyn Harryman, marketing teacher at KHS. "At my last school, we ran a school store. It gives kids a real experience and they realize how important it is to have these skills."
Students already have many skills they may not realize, said Bowlus. Students are adept at using computers, can create Web sites and use technology, then may get a job at a local fast-food restaurant and not use those skills.
"As a business owner, I'd be willing to have classes visit my store, do some hands-on training and build their self-esteem," said Debbie Daughtry, owner of Bab's Boutique in River City Mall, Keokuk.
Students are required to have more and more core classes and electives get squeezed out, said Logan. If students are also involved with band and chorus, there are no extra hours.
"I don't know where we'd squeeze out an extra hour," agreed Wendt.
That's where training teachers to integrate entrepreneurship across the curriculum comes in, said Bowlus.
Carol Betts suggested a community brochure be produced with written profiles of area businesses and how they started, what resources were used, the steps, the sparks and the set-backs to starting a business.
Daughtry suggested a mock job fair for students with local businesses having interviews on the spot.
Bowlus offered the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center can host teacher training on site in Keokuk or at the university.
Jim Boyd owner of Big River Box also attended Tuesday's meeting.
O'Brien organized the meeting after hearing Bowlus speak at a Leadership Iowa conference.
The next step will be to compile a list of current resources then to follow up on some of the ideas presented, said O'Brien.
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