About Your Teacher

A Little About Me

• Fourth-generation Colorado native.
• Started my own business right out of high school.
• Later moved into education because it was something I loved.
• Have worked in a variety of roles, including executive director of schools and principal.
• Now in my sixth-plus year at Ponderosa — I took this job mid-year to cover for a teacher who had left.
• I decided I never wanted to go back to being a principal, and I just stayed.

I love these kids. I want them to be successful, and I work long hours to make sure I'm offering the best courses I possibly can.

What This Class Is About

Introduction to Business

A broad overview of business: economics, ownership, entrepreneurship, management, marketing, finance, accounting, operations, human resources, law, ethics, and career development.

No previous business experience is required. This course helps students understand the business world they already participate in — as consumers, employees, citizens, and future professionals — through readings, discussions, case studies, simulations, and real-world projects.

Classroom Culture

Our Core Rules

This isn't about punishment — research consistently shows a phone's mere presence drains working memory, even unused. This policy protects concentration so students can actually learn.

Business Etiquette

Etiquette Is Graded — On Purpose

Business etiquette is explicitly taught, practiced, and graded throughout the course — developed directly from feedback given by professionals across the country. Employers consistently emphasized punctuality, preparation, attention, communication, and responsibility.

It includes arriving on time, being prepared, following directions, communicating professionally, responding to feedback, and taking responsibility for one's own work.

These aren't arbitrary classroom rules. They're transferable life and employment skills — and etiquette accounts for approximately 10% of the total course grade.

Artificial Intelligence

Green Light / Red Light AI Policy

AI isn't the enemy — it's a modern tool students need to learn to use effectively, responsibly, and honestly. I'll always be clear about which activities are which.

Pace & Workload

Classwork, Not Routine Homework

This course does not traditionally assign routine homework. Students get substantial class time to complete readings, discussions, case studies, and projects — the expectation is that they use it well.

This class moves quickly and covers a broad range of topics. A student who's absent returns to a class that's kept moving, and is responsible for both the missed work and the missed instruction.

Late & Missing Work

If Work Is Missing

1. Identify exactly what's incomplete.
2. Review the posted instructions, examples, and materials.
3. Ask questions when clarification is needed.
4. Schedule time outside of class to complete the work.
5. Attend after-school assistance when reteaching is necessary.
6. Submit the completed work through the course procedure.

An absence doesn't automatically remove a deadline, especially for long-term projects announced in advance.

Grading

How Grades Work

Grades reflect assignments, case studies, simulations, projects, presentations, quizzes, business-planning activities, career-readiness work, FBLA activities, and business etiquette.

Grades are not given. They are earned through hard work, consistent effort, demonstrated learning, and strong attention to business etiquette.

I'm Here to Help

After-School Support & Contact