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Teacher Profile -
Genevieve Skettle |
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Click on any image to see a larger version of the image. |
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“I’m a fan of
E CITY because…
…of
the dedication they have to the students and because they hold true to
their mission.”
But listen to Genevieve’s chatty description of her teaching
experience with E CITY
and you’ll quickly know that it is we who are to be recognizing
her for dedication to students. |
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Genevieve and Peg helping students with
business plan |
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| Genevieve is now
teaching her fourth E CITY program. What entices a young woman who
works all day, to commit three afternoons each week to teaching this
after-school program, as well? “The kids
motivate me,” she says. “They keep bringing me back by
showing up each day…I can’t let them down! I also see how much they
gain through the E CITY curriculum. The $50 loan [given to each
student for the lesson in profit-making] and what it does for them is
awesome.”
What
distinguishes the curriculum “…is that it directly relates to the
outside world. The students can read a chapter and get excited about
it. They can actually take what’s in the book and go out and do it,
whereas with a math lesson from school, they do the problems and then
close the book and put it away.” |
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| Genevieve’s first
program was at the Miles Avenue YMCA, where she had students from
several schools, including Warrensville Heights Middle School and John F.
Kennedy High School. “One
student took two buses and traveled a full hour to get to the class
four days each week,” remarks Genevieve. That particular class
created a business known as
“Cleveland Blooms,” which made and sold flower pots decorated with
photos |
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Genevieve helping a student |
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of Cleveland. That was in addition to the individual business
plans required of each student Her other
programs have been at Alexander Hamilton Middle School, where she had
more than 30 seventh and eighth graders apply for the 15 spots in each
session. “These kids want to learn and want to be fulfilled. They
are willing to give up other activities to be in this class and they
are happy to have something to do to prevent boredom.”
As a teacher of language arts and social studies, she was at first
intimidated by the thought of leading an entrepreneurship class.
However, like all E CITY teachers, she was sent to Certified Entrepreneurship Training.
She also realized that she knew more than she thought she did, perhaps
due to exposure to her parents’ small business. |
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How did we find
this genuine and passionate teacher? “John and Nicole came to
Alexander Hamilton to recruit teachers, and our principal pulled me
into the meeting. I guess I just happened to be around. Come to find
out, I knew John Zitzner. We had been on a mission trip to the
Dominican Republic together. It’s really a small world.” |
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Nicole, Genevieve and Student at Graduation |
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| Come visit one of
Genevieve’s classes and you too, will feel as though it’s a small
world. She has a gentle way of welcoming all, and you’ll feel as
though you’ve known her all along. |
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