processes of developing and testing a hypothesis, adapting to results, and continually learning and improving. This cycle of experimentation is combined with foundational business concepts such as marketing and finance.

Students Learn by Doing

Over the course of two semesters, students will work in teams and learn by doing. They will develop a business model canvas, gain market input on a minimum viable product, and iterate all elements to improve their business plan.

Students are taught by a team of experts that include volunteer coaches, volunteer mentors, and the classroom teacher. Coaches provide authentic business expertise in a specific area.

They come into the classroom for a short period of time( approximately 2-4 days) to provide all students with realworld context for a specific curricular area. The coach and classroom teacher plan lessons and present together. The coach’ s focus is on curricular content, not war stories. Mentors are assigned to one team and follow them through the entire process providing students with feedback and encouragement. The classroom teacher serves as the program leader and is a certified teacher

that manages the class and volunteers and provides continuity. The Board of Advisors, or“ Sharks,” is an integral part of the INCubatoredu Team. As seen on the popular TV show“ Shark Tank,” the Board of Advisors is comprised of 2-3 community business experts to provide strategic guidance and serve as the“ pitch” audience twice a year, including the Minimum Viable Product Pitch at the beginning of Semester 2 and during the Final Pitch at the end of the year. The Board of Advisors, or Sharks, provides a strategic voice and evaluates pitches at the MVP phase and for possible funding at the Final Pitch phase.

An Open House will be held on May 10, 2018 at Pleasant Hills Middle School from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm for all

prospective volunteers to learn more about the program and meet the TJHS INCubatoredu Team. Community members interested in teaching a lesson or sharing their time and expertise should contact Julie Thornton at julieathornton @ yahoo. com or Carrie Lekse at clekse @ wjhsd. net.

Develops Life-long Learning Skills

In the real world, where simple answers are few and far between, where change is constant, competition is fierce, and the careers of tomorrow aren’ t yet known, students armed with an entrepreneur’ s toolkit will have a distinct advantage over students who are used to simply“ doing” school. As an outcome, students will develop the necessary skills for the 21st Century economy including:

• Blend of Lean Startup process with foundational business topics

• Authentic, real-world learning and adaptability

• Hands-on problem solving and critical thinking

• Collaboration, communication and creativity

INCubatoredu creates a foundational experience for high school students who will study entrepreneurship and business in college as well as for those students who enter the workforce after graduating from high school. Ultimately, entrepreneurship is about turning ideas into reality and using those ideas to change the world. INCubatoredu prepares students for the complexity of the challenges facing the world today.

INCubatoredu @ TJHS Team Program Lead / Classroom Teacher Lisa Kostella

Community Champion Julie Thornton

PR / Community Engagement Carrie Lekse

46 WEST JEFFERSON HILLS