Growth opportunities for our youth within the local community is an extremely important component of the educational mantra and experience the Prescott Unified School District (PUSD) looks to provide its students. At the Prescott High School (PHS), one such opportunity lies in the co-curriculum, dual enrollment business management program which also features a robust and growing local chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
The Business management curriculum as part of the Career Technical Education (CTE) program at PHS provides its students with the opportunity to learn about various aspects of business through a dynamic, fast-paced, dual-enrollment curriculum, partnered with Yavapai College. Students receive both high school elective credit towards graduation as well as the ability to earn college credit that jump starts their students next level educational goals.
“FBLA program offers our students an avenue to utilize the professional skills, knowledge and abilities obtained in our business management curriculum and allows them the ability to apply it throughout our local and state FBLA chapters”, says Mike Brown, PHS Business Management instructor, FBLA Advisor and Arizona FBLA executive committee member. Mr. Brown is in his first year, taking the program over for long-tenured business instructor and now current Yavapai College professor, Lauri Dreher.
Within PHS local FBLA student members assume roles and responsibilities not unlike if they were in an authentic business environment. The goals, objectives and accomplishments of the organization are 100 percent member driven with the guidance of the FBLA advisor. “This structure allows its members to collaborate, share ideas, and use their expertise and skills to drive our program forward”, says Brown. The program is already among the top five largest in the state boasting 152 members and growing. PHS FBLA was awarded at the annual state leadership conference, recognized as a Gold chapter as well as seeing the second largest percentage of membership growth in 2018-2019.
“It’s a stated goal of our officer team to reach close to 200 members within our local chapter for the 2019-2020 school year. I know we can do it. We have a fantastic group of selfless, smart and motivated local chapter officers that provide a unified core leadership structure for our organization”, says Brown. As an officer team each member goes through a summer leadership retreat — a four-day leadership and team-building program — designed to prepare them for leadership opportunities and challenges they will face as officers. “Our officer team for this year is very dynamic. I am continually impressed by how much poise, professionalism, energy and dedication they bring to their roles as local chapter officers”, says Brown. They are planning and setting the bar to unprecedented levels this year. Internship opportunities in the local community, increased community service and civic involvement, pioneering a new chapter membership program, and middle school FBLA chapter are highlights of the very ambush POW or program of work for the organization. “It’s going to take a team effort and get our members more active than ever to accomplish our goals this year”, says Jared Guthrie, local chapter co- VP of Finance. Jared was also elected this May at the State Leadership Conference as the FBLA State VP of Finance with the campaigning help of his local FBLA delegation. With over 3,500 FBLA members statewide and nine officer positions it’s a prestigious honor and marks the second PHS member to be elected to state office.
If you want more information or to get involved with helping FBLA, please contact:
Mike Brown
Prescott High School
Business Management Instructor
FBLA Advisor
928-445-2322 ext 72102
