Entrepreneurship in Education

by Hillary Lewis

Moderator: Aaron Tang, Founder, Our Education

Panelists:

Joe Andrasko, Sankaty Education

Brandon Krueger, K12

Pam Moran, Superintendent, Albermarle County School System

“Schools are like vineyards. You grow the same grapes, but not the same wine,” said Pam Moran, Superintendent of Albermale County School System, while discussing the various techniques and methods to not just recreate, but reinvent the education system.

Entrepreneurship in Education focused on the concept of new and innovative ways to educate students outside the confines of the traditional classroom. In 2002, the U.S. government dedicated an office for innovation and improvement to bring creativity to classroom content and practices, but teachers face a problem. There is a clear distinction between innovation and recreation. For example, a smartboard is just a recreated chalkboard. Entrepreneurship in education focuses on the need to not only recreate, but also, to innovate and invent creative solutions to address a changing world and nurture entrepreneurial thinking in youth.

Wherein does the responsibility lie? From teachers to parents and policymakers to private industry, the stakeholders involved in revitalizing American schools are endless. Joe Andrasko, an entrepreneur who started a private tutoring company in Nantucket that eventually evolved into Sankaty Education, argues that there is money to be made in learning.

He has a valid point. Education is the second largest industry in the United States, accounting for 13.5 million jobs. Our challenge, as business leaders, is making education effective and profitable.

Brandon Krueger, VP Marketing Operations at K12, specializes in bringing virtual learning to students all over the United States. His entrepreneurial approach to bringing a classroom environment to students anywhere at any time has demonstrated the endless possibilities to transcend geographic boundaries and to make profit in education.

Furthermore, Pam Moran taught us that it’s possible to embrace entrepreneurship in education by her ability to find creative solutions to the Albermale County school bus services. Driving over 12,000 miles a day, Moran worked on improving routes and technology, generating savings of over a million dollars, allowing her to preserve jobs.

As we think about our education at Darden, we embrace the case method that forces us to develop content knowledge in relatable ways, not just digest T-Accounts and Crystal Ball outputs. How do we generate creative content in elementary schools?

My take away from this panel was the need to take learning in the classroom further than just consumption of facts and numbers to hands-on involvement that will allow students to take ownership of their education and grow into the leaders that America needs.

The mentality of ownership does not only rest in students’ hands, but the panelist made the point that educators must see themselves as entrepreneurs. As a teacher, success should not be measured by test scores. It should be measured by the lives that you touch and the ability to produce students who want to positively impact the world.

As Andrasko stated, we must look at socioeconomic issues. Education varies not only within the United States, but also within cities and counties. Entrepreneurship should not be limited to the classroom. It should be expanded into support systems for children as well as after school programs. I would argue that entrepreneurship in education should also transcend into legislation development for forward thinking thought.

Pam Moran mentioned that “One school in Albermale County has the economic potential to raise more than enough money in one night to cover the deficit that would take another school in Albermale County 12 years to raise.” This to me is troubling. My challenge to Moran is to make that known to students, parents, voters, and be a leader to inspire change. Maybe there is opportunity for creative entrepreneurship to raise money for education in Albermale County?

Whose responsibility is it to change the education system? Maybe you want to change health care or tax reform. My challenge to the Darden community is find an inspiration aside from yourself that will allow you to facilitate change and foster innovation. Believe it or not, the ability to generate revenue exists in all aspects of the economy – You don’t have to work on Wall Street.

All in all, entrepreneurship doesn’t just start with a government department or words. As Thomas Jefferson said, “ACT! Action will delineate and define you.” As leaders at Darden and as future leaders of the free world, we should start thinking about ways we can implement change and foster growth in not only education, but in all aspects of our communities.

(P.S. Keep your eyes open for a potential BVIP opportunity with Joe Andrasko and Sankatay Education listed on the CDC portal)