A Daughter of Charity Helping Students Make Dreams Real

Sr. Joan, a Daughter of Charity, teaches 8th grade at Mother Seton Academy-- a tuition-free middle school in Baltimore for students surrounded by poverty http://www.mothersetonacademy.org/index.html.  She teaches an entrepreneurship class in addition to her regular teaching schedule after school a couple of days a week.  The program is called NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship). 

Students are trained to prepare a business plan, create a budget and to promote their business through presenting their business.  The students compete locally and nationally with other NFTE participants.  Sr. Joan has had students win the city-wide competition for the last 2 years who have gone to higher levels of competition.  Her students are in middle school, but most of their competition is high school students.

Students take these business proposals seriously and many have been able to put their business plans into action.  The businesses vary greatly such as dog treats, scented lotion and lawn care.

In NFTE and in regular classes, Sr. Joan inspires her students to dream and to follow their dreams backed by a solid Catholic education.  Her students work hard and they can see the fruit of this work in projects such as NFTE.

NFTE recently sent Sr. Joan and other teachers from the U.S. and around the world to New York for a special event.  At this event Sr. Joan and others were presented "Teacher of the Year" awards for their dedication to prepare the business leaders of tomorrow.

Here is her award:

Cool looking isn't it?!