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This April we are putting the spotlight on ‘Growth’ – the fourth of the five VCHS Portrait of a Graduate characteristics. We define growth this way – Our graduates are 1) curious, 2) open to meeting new opportunities and challenges, and 3) resilient in the face of failure.
With thanks to The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Sarah Hochtl (Science Teacher) was one of the recipients of the 2024 VCHS Faculty Innovation Grants. She previously was awarded a grant in 2021 and from it built a greenhouse that now operates on campus along the Eagle River and supports her Community Health and Food Sustainability course. With the new grant, Mrs. Hochtl is seeking to further extend her own entrepreneurial work but more deeply involve students with the process helping them become entrepreneurs.
Similar to Stanford’s 5-step Design Thinking Process, she began by empathizing and defining a problem to be solved. Before going too far, she wanted to assess her problem definition and did that by inviting two colleagues (Heidi Cofelice and Stephanie Ward) and together they attended the Student Entrepreneurship Symposium hosted by Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. Last month, she presented her initial findings at a faculty meeting and this is what she had to say:
Picture this…students who have clearly defined values. Students who are opportunity seekers, are goal driven and who aren’t afraid of failure, but truly understand that it is the only path towards growth. Picture students working towards a common goal and in the process become collaborators and effective communicators. Picture a student driven classroom where ideas are embraced and fostered and most importantly, grown into something real and tangible. Picture a student body who is given daily personal responsibility time and does not take this for granted.
In the real world, students will have to come up with their own answers, learn by doing things never been done before, and form relationships and connections with people they may or may not get along with. We heard from students [at the Symposium] who could communicate their ideas and accomplishments better than most adults, who took ownership of those accomplishments and had the confidence to speak about how they got themselves there.
I went to the Student Entrepreneurship Symposium thinking that I wanted to start a teaching kitchen. I left realizing that we have far more work to do before that goal can be accomplished. We have to completely change student mindset and take a step-by-step approach to growing entrepreneurial thinkers and creators. I now understand that students have to create their own opportunities in order to take ownership and I have a better idea and a clear example of how one school has achieved this remarkable culture. I now want to find the time and resources to do ‘trial and error’ growing this mindset with a group of students next school year.
I can think of few better examples of our creating ‘Growth’ VCHS Portrait of a Graduate opportunities for our students – VCHS graduates who are curious, open to meeting new opportunities and challenges, and resilient in the face of failure. Stay tuned for what’s next!
Steve O'Neil
Head of School
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