CEE hosts Young Entrepreneurs Summit for local high school students and teachers

When local high schools began searching for support in teaching a new curriculum pathway, they turned to a familiar partner: James Madison University’s Center for Economic Education (CEE). Recently updated Department of Education standards now recognize entrepreneurship as an approved pathway for students’ work-based learning which is creating new opportunities for students and instructional demands for teachers.

In response, the CEE launched the Young Entrepreneurs Summit, a one-day, hands-on experience designed to support both groups at once. “They specifically asked us to offer training for teachers and an experience for students,” said John Kruggel, director of the CEE.

This year’s summit marked a shift in approach. After piloting a longer, multi-day format last year, the CEE worked with school leaders to redesign the experience into a single, focused day centered on active learning and immediate classroom application.

Rather than relying on presentations, the summit was built around participation. Students from Rockingham and Augusta County high schools worked through entrepreneurship activities that challenged them to make decisions, test ideas and collaborate.

At the center of the event was a new entrepreneurship curriculum developed by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE). The curriculum includes 18 ready-to-use lessons for middle and high school classrooms, complete with instructions and materials lists. “It was a way for teachers to get trained on the curriculum while students engaged in a day-long experience,” Kruggel said, noting that observing the lessons in action helped teachers see how the curriculum is intended to be delivered.

The Young Entrepreneurs Summit strengthens the CEE’s position as a trusted partner for local schools navigating changing expectations. “The comfort level they have with us is what leads to them reaching out,” Kruggel said. “We try to say yes as much as possible.”

As entrepreneurship continues to grow as part of the state curriculum, the CEE plans to continue helping teachers bring these lessons into the classroom and connecting students with future possibilities.