The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Career Technical Education (CTE) team recently recognized the Youth Entrepreneurs (YE) organization, based in Wichita, as an Exemplary Kansas CTE Partner.
This quarterly recognition highlights successful CTE programs that prepare students to succeed in further education and careers through alignment with workforce and post-secondary requirements and by providing opportunities to work collaboratively with local businesses and communities.
“Kansas CTE enjoys a great reputation locally, at the state level and on the national stage. That reputation is validated each school year through the hard work and dedication of CTE partners who are committed to providing quality CTE for the students in Kansas,” said Jay Scott, KSDE assistant director for CTE. “Across the state, we are recognizing ‘bright spots’ for their excellence in CTE so they can serve as models for other programs working to ensure all students in Kansas become college and career ready.”
Youth Entrepreneurs, led by Kylie Stupka, is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization that teaches business and entrepreneurial education in 30 high schools across Kansas and Missouri.
The organization was selected for recognition by KSDE because of its tireless commitment to teaching entrepreneurship as a means to better prepare Kansas students for success in business and other future career and education endeavors.
“From industry field-trips to business plan competitions, YE delivers real-world professional learning experiences in the classroom,” said Kirk Haskins, KSDE education program consultant for business. “They believe in delivering modern professional development opportunities for teachers and are dedicated to making sure that Kansas students receive the very best classroom business curriculum and instruction available.”
In addition to the work within the Youth Entrepreneurs program, Stupka and other staff members have been instrumental in assisting KSDE-CTE in nurturing entrepreneurial skills and small business knowledge in Kansas students.
Together, they have developed a partnership which will lead to a prosperous Kansas workforce.
