Thomas Jefferson High School PETE MURPHY, PRINCIPAL
Thomas Jefferson High School strives to provide our students with real-world, experiential learning to successfully prepare them for
life after graduation. TJ offers several academic, hands-on technology and enrichment course electives to personalize learning and meet
the needs of our students. We are pleased to provide the following student articles to highlight a sampling of our unique courses.
Interviewing INCubator
BY ALYSSA VOLOMINO
P
rioritizing creativity, cooperation, and capability,
INCubatoredu is an innovative program encouraging
students across the nation to enhance skills in
entrepreneurship and networking.
Adopted by Thomas Jefferson High School during the 2018-
2019 school year, students approached the course with a
problem, prepared a pitch for their classmates, and selected an
idea to pursue throughout the course. Experiments, failures, and
reevaluations continuously prompted students to fall in love with
the problem--not the proposed solution. This growth mindset
accompanied an enhanced willingness to learn and increased
passion to resolve the issue at hand.
Adam Knaresborough, Assistant Principal of Thomas Jefferson
High School and avid observer of the program, notes the
advantages of engaging in curriculum unlike any other business
course in Pittsburgh: “After seeing the teamwork, leadership, and
entrepreneurial skills displayed by our students last year, I believe
the Incubator program is a class that everyone should experience
in high school.”
Further advocated by Knaresborough, “The incubator course
teaches 21st century skills that are critical for success in the ever
changing world we work and live in.”
As students participate in problem interviews, develop a
business concept, adapt to proposed suggestions, and redirect
as needed, they take risks with the goal of improvement--not
perfection. Asking for feedback in the classroom greatly differs
from approaching the public and pitching one’s solution. Yet,
INCubator students gradually gain confidence and perspective as
they venture outside the halls of TJHS. This initiates the process
of gaining skills--networking, leadership, communication, and
problem solving--that will benefit students throughout the course
of their careers.
Zeke Mathers, junior INCubator student at Thomas Jefferson,
details the benefits of these skill sets in conjunction with an
unmatched learning environment: “I hope to gain some sort
of self-sufficiency. This is a pretty good example of an office
environment by having a team to work with and having to do a
lot of stuff outside of school.”
Lisa Kostella, INCubator instructor and business teacher at
Thomas Jefferson, sets deadlines to all assignments and allots
class time for such tasks to be completed. This teaching method
enables students to learn time management skills and accept the
responsibility of working at one’s own pace. Similar to a day in the
workplace, the INCubator entrepreneurs approach second period
as if they are clocking into work.
With the guidance of Kostella and assistance from mentors,
the students are able to complete tasks and create goals. The
36 WEST JEFFERSON HILLS
Photograph of the 2019-2020 INCubator class taken by Lisa Kostella
mentor program is comprised of volunteers who offer insight on
one’s business model canvas, monetary projection, and consumer
feedback. Signing a pledge to commit to the development of the
product idea and growth of the students as individuals, mentors
and coaches teach lessons to the class from their professional
field--marketing, innovation, law--to prompt success of their
groups and the class as a whole.
The dedication and time put forth by staff, volunteers, and
students is sure to attract success as the class aims to pitch at
the Pittsburgh Business Show for the second time. The success
of one’s product goes beyond the amount invested; the lessons
learned, confidence gained, and skills obtained will benefit
students for the rest of their professional careers.
Beaming with pride and optimism, Kostella eagerly waits for the
day when one of her students’ products reaches its full potential:
“I am excited to see
one of these products
go beyond the
classroom. When a
group fully dedicates
itself to the problem
and listens to the
advice from mentors
and coaches, the
consequential success
will be amazing for
both the students
involved and the
INCubator program.”
Alyssa Volomino will attend the
University of Pittsburgh main
campus in the Fall and plans to
major in pre-law.