Business Skills Baked In: Campo Verde's Corporate Academy Completes Sweet Partnership

After teaming up with a local small business, Decadent Macaroon, for the school year, Campo Verde High's Corporate Academy has gained invaluable hands-on experience in creating and implementing real-world marketing strategies. This year-long partnership provided students with a unique opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to practical business challenges, while supporting a small business with their marketing strategies.

Before Corporate Academy could truly support Decadent Macaron, the students needed to know the ins and outs of the business. So, at the beginning of the school year, students toured the store and conducted an online and on-site analysis to gain a deep understanding of the business. They focused on understanding the intricacies of small business operations and identified areas for improvement, which informed students of how their efforts could best support Decedant Macaron’s business goals.

Throughout the year, Corporate Academy students worked on a variety of targeted projects for the business. Students created specialty logos and designs, including new seasonal branding for holidays. The students also worked on developing new menu cards, loyalty cards, catering materials, and unique care cards. Beyond visual assets, students crafted social media advertisements and content, designed holiday flyers, and brainstormed new product ideas.

Students not only gained marketing experience but also sharpened other essential workplace skills, from communication and collaboration to understanding the nuances of running a business.

Decadent Macaroon integrated some student work in their business, utilizing a logo designed for a seasonal promotion and implementing a flavor card made by the students. "It was great working with students,” said Stephanie Wagner, Owner of Decadent Macaron. “We love that GPS offers a program to equip students who are interested in entrepreneurship. We loved to see their creativity.”

Campo Verde's Corporate Academy is a unique business program currently offered only at Campo Verde High School. As a three-year CTE program, it is structured as a set of three sequential business courses that teach students business and career-focused skills, including business writing and communication, social media marketing, and consumer marketing. The program emphasizes real-world learning with project and discovery-based instruction, enlightening guest speakers, and tours of businesses and corporations.

Throughout the Corporate Academy program, students progress through three courses: "Exploring the Corporate World" in year one, "Build Your Own Business" in year two, and "Advertising Strategies & Economics" in year three. During their first year in the program, students explore the principles of the corporate and business world, learning about workplace norms, trends, dress-for-work, business communications, proper technology use, and an introduction to corporate structure. In their second year, students build an understanding of the inner workings of a business or corporation from inception to opening day. Here, students experience the nature of a small business, determine their potential as an entrepreneur, and develop an original business plan. In their final year with Corporate Academy, students dive deep into business marketing, advertising, branding, and public relations. Students discover, analyze and develop marketing strategies ranging from small businesses to large corporations. It is in year three that students participate in business partnerships like the one with Decadent Macaron.

Upon completing the Corporate Academy program, students earn 2.5 CTE/Elective credits and 0.5 Economics credits, a graduation requirement, and 1.5 weighted/honors credits. Students also have the opportunity to earn six optional Dual credits with Chandler-Gilbert Community College. In addition to academic credits, students can receive a State CTE Business Management Certification and a Customer Service and Sales Certificate from the RISE UP foundation. Additionally, students may earn FBLA graduation honor cords and a Diploma Seal in Personal Finance.

Campo Verde’s Corporate Academy teacher, Ashley McLaren, is always looking for new local businesses for her students to support. These partnerships typically involve sole proprietorships or relatively new ventures with an entrepreneurial spirit, rather than corporate chains. As a Career and Technical Education program, Corporate Academy aims to empower students with real-world skills, preparing them for future careers while simultaneously contributing to the growth of the local business community.

To learn more about Campo Verde’s Corporate Academy, or to learn more about CTE programs across Gilbert Public Schools, visit GilbertSchools.net/CTE.