ASPIRE FOR HIGHER STUDENT SUCCESS MAKE AN IMPACT ON STUDENTS ENHANCE TEACHING AND LEARNING BRING VISIBILITY AND SUPPORT TO YOUR SCHOOL WWW.DECA.ORG DECA 1
Aspire for higher student success with As a principal in a high school with a large, diverse student population, high parental and community expectations and the constant pressure of high-stakes testing, I understand the challenges of motivating faculty and students. As a career educator and parent, I also understand the value of going beyond the knowledge-based testing to assure our kids are college and career ready. That s why I want to recommend DECA as a tool that has worked extremely well for me, my faculty and our community. Throughout my more than 25 years as a teacher and administrator, I have advised and supported co-curricula student activities like DECA because of their value in motivating students and engaging parents and the community. The opportunity these activities offer the students to connect with the school while extending the classroom and creating advocates in the community is often the intangible difference between a good school and a great education. DECA has been a part of the co-curricula offerings for over 65 years, serving more than 5,000 high schools in 50 states and nine countries each year. Like all aspects of education, DECA reformed its programs to reflect the changing priorities of education and evolving needs of the global economy, thus best preparing its members to be college and career ready. DECA has done an incredible job by restructuring its learning programs, including competitive events, leadership programs and online challenges, to tie directly to national curriculum standards. DECA has also expanded its curriculum connection beyond marketing and entrepreneurship to include finance, hospitality and management. In addition, DECA has created incredible new partnerships with the business community and colleges and embedded 21 st Century Skills like creativity, problem solving, self-direction, social responsibility and technology fluency directly into student programs. Please take a few minutes and review the enclosed DVD and support materials. You will like what you see. If you think DECA is a good fit for your school, meet with your faculty teaching marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and business management and help them establish a chapter. Paul A. Wardinski Principal, West Springfield High School Springfield, Virginia MEET PAUL WARDINSKI > 15 years of service as principal > 11 years of service as a teacher > Fairfax County Public Schools Principal of the Year Nominee, 2009 > BETA Administrator of the Year, 2002 > VAME State of Virginia Teacher of the Year, 1996 ABOUT WEST SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL > Grades 9-12 > 2300+ students > 220 faculty and staff Let s talk about DECA. Watch our short 5-minute DVD that showcases how DECA supports academic achievement and improves the student experience. <www.deca.org/about/ DECA activities are endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. 2 DECA WWW.DECA.ORG
PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE + CAREERS DECA members become academically prepared students demonstrating college and career readiness by engaging in academically challenging programs that include advanced coursework and career and technical education. DECA S GUIDING PRINCIPLES DECA s Comprehensive Learning Program Integrates into Classroom Instruction An integral component of classroom instruction, DECA activities provide authentic, experiential learning methods to prepare members for college and careers. Applies Learning DECA members put their knowledge into action through rigorous project-based activities that require creative solutions with practical outcomes. Connects to Business Partnerships with businesses at local and broader levels provide DECA members realistic insight into industry and promote meaningful, relevant learning. Promotes Competition As in the global economy, a spark of competition drives DECA members to excel and improve their performance. DECA prepares the next generation to be Academically Prepared DECA members are ambitious, high-achieving leaders equipped to conquer the challenges of their aspirations. Community Oriented Recognizing the benefit of service and responsibility to the community, DECA members continually impact and improve their local and broader communities. Professionally Responsible DECA members are poised professionals with ethics, integrity and high standards. Experienced Leaders DECA members are empowered through experience to provide effective leadership through goal setting, consensus building and project implementation. When selecting a career, DECA members are more likely to select a career in marketing, finance, hospitality or business management. FUTURE MAJOR/CAREER PATH DECA NATIONAL DECA members are enrolled in courses that support the marketing, finance, hospitality and business management career clusters. DECA members enter college with more credits and other forms of academic credentials than the national average. 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Accounting/Finance 8.4% 2.5% Business Administration 14.5% 4.5% Business - International 11.5% 1.5% Business Owner/Entrepreneur 16.3% 3.9% Fashion Merchandising 3.8% 2.3% Hospitality/Resort Management 2.1% 0.4% Marketing/Advertising 13.2% 1.3% Sports Marketing/Management 5.3% 2.4% 0 73% MARKETING 15% MANAGEMENT 18% FINANCE 5% HOSPITALITY <DECA <National 16% ENTREPRENEURSHIP Advanced Placement Other Advanced College Credit Gifted/Accelerated International Honors Programs Courses Programs Baccalaureate Research findings courtesy of the National Research Center for College and University Admissions. The sample included 22,931 high school DECA members at association career development conferences and was compared to data from more than one million students nationwide. WWW.DECA.ORG DECA 3
ENRICH THE CLASSROOM COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING PROGRAM COLLEGE + BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS The DECA experience starts in the classroom where students learn business concepts in preparation for college and careers. A powerful instructional program, DECA brings the classroom to life. DECA enhances the classroom experience and empowers the teacher-advisor to make learning relevant with exciting, challenging learning programs that integrate into classroom instruction, apply learning, connect to business and promote competition. COMPETITIVE EVENTS PROGRAM CORPORATE PARTNER CHALLENGES DECA s Comprehensive Learning Program naturally supports programs of study in four career clusters: Marketing, Business Administration, Finance, and Hospitality, giving teachers the tools and resources to incorporate DECA into the curriculum and bring the classroom to life. For each career cluster, DECA programs span secondary and postsecondary levels of education, demonstrate strong partnerships, provide an accountability and evaluation system and deliver professional development. DECA activities increase the rigor and relevance of classroom instruction. DIMENSIONS MAGAZINE DECA programs are aligned with National Curriculum Standards in Marketing, Business Management, Finance and Hospitality. DECA offers teacher-advisor professional development opportunities to support teacher effectiveness. Educators who serve as DECA advisors value the program as a powerful teaching and learning tool. 68% of DECA advisors indicated their personal involvement in the organization at a very high level. EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS DECA advisors have unparalleled access to resources to enhance the classroom experience, bring learning to life and motivate students. 80% 50% of DECA advisors use the new DECA website regularly to access teaching and learning resources. of DECA advisors indicated that DECA is one of the most active organizations in their schools in terms of student engagement. GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK SCHOOL-BASED ENTERPRISES 4 DECA WWW.DECA.ORG
DECA s Competitive Events Program is an incredible tool for your curriculum. As an integral part of the classroom curriculum, DECA s industry-validated competitive events are aligned with National Curriculum Standards. DECA s flagship evaluation process involves students in both a written component such as an exam or report and an interactive component with an industry professional serving as a judge. DECA s competitive events reinforce creativity, problem solving and presentation skills. The potential for members to earn scholarships and cash awards for learning classroom content is a tremendous motivator. With more than 45 events, DECA offers a competitive event for every course and every student. <www.deca.org/competitions/highschool DECA S COMPETITIVE EVENTS BY CAREER CLUSTER MARKETING Advertising Campaign Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series Automotive Services Marketing Series Business Services Marketing Series Buying and Merchandising Operations Research Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making Community Service Project Creative Marketing Project Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan Food Marketing Series Learn and Earn Project Marketing Communications Team Decision Making Marketing Management Series Principles of Marketing Professional Selling Public Relations Project Retail Merchandising Series Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making Sports and Entertainment Promotion Plan Virtual Business Challenge Retail Virtual Business Challenge Sports DECA Transcripts document members mastery of academic content in DECA s Competitive Events Program. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT + ADMINISTRATION Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making Business Services Operations Research Entrepreneurship Participating Entrepreneurship Promotion Project Entrepreneurship Written Human Resources Management Series International Business Plan Principles of Business Management and Administration FINANCE Accounting Applications Series Business Finance Series Finance Operations Research Financial Literacy Promotion Project Financial Services Team Decision Making Principles of Finance Stock Market Game HOSPITALITY + TOURISM Hospitality Services Team Decision Making Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling Hotel and Lodging Management Series Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series Restaurant and Food Service Management Series Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making 91% of DECA members report that DECA has influenced their future plans. 7X DECA members are seven times more likely to study business topics in college. WWW.DECA.ORG DECA 5
EXTEND LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Access to DECA s college and business partners extends learning, supports your program and builds community awareness. <www.deca.org/partners > STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS DECA members have an exclusive opportunity to earn one of DECA s corporate scholarships. More than $300,000 in scholarships are presented annually to DECA members for their academic achievement, DECA involvement and college and career preparedness. > COLLEGE CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS + CAREER GUIDANCE DECA s college partners engage DECA members and help them prepare for the colleges and careers of their choice. Many of DECA s college partners provide classroom presentations as well as tuition discounts exclusively to DECA members. > INTERNSHIPS, WORK EXPERIENCE + EMPLOYMENT More than 20 of DECA s corporate partners provide opportunities for internships, work experience and employment. Many provide scholarships exclusively to DECA members who are their associates. > COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES Recognizing the benefit of service and responsibility to the community, DECA members continually impact and improve their local and broader communities. Community service activities engage students while focusing around a common effort. They teach the importance of giving back, project implementation, communication skills and team building. Each year, DECA members raise more than $450,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and other important causes. > LEARNING WHILE EARNING The fundraising process allows DECA advisors to incorporate many key educational concepts, such as marketing, finance and customer service, into a learning activity while earning funds for chapter activities. DECA provides access to a variety of approved fundraising vendors to help chapters acquire quality products. <Learn more about DECA s partnership with these and other companies at www.deca.org/partners. 6 DECA WWW.DECA.ORG
ENHANCE YOUR TEACHERS DECA advisors instantly become part of a network of thousands of colleagues who teach the same courses. DECA offers high-quality, continuous professional development resources, workshops and seminars to enhance their skills and performance. <www.deca.org/advisors > NEW ADVISOR MENTORSHIP DECA welcomes new professionals to our organization. Through monthly electronic mentorship as well as the New Advisor Academy at the International Career Development Conference, DECA helps bring our new advisors up-to-speed. We re only a phone call or e-mail away. > ADVISOR NEWSLETTER + CHAPTER PACKETS DECA Insight informs chapter advisors about DECA events and programs and provides professional development articles four times a year. DECA Insight is delivered in chapter packets that include tools such as DECA s business partner poster series and fundraising ideas. > DECA CERTIFIED TRAINER WORKSHOPS Delivered at state and regional conferences, these DECA workshops are conducted by one of 30 certified DECA trainers on topics including chapter success, integrating DECA learning activities into the classroom, competitive events and the roles of a chapter advisor. > DECA CHAPTER ADVISOR SUMMER INSTITUTES These four-day institutes send DECA chapter advisors back into the classroom armed with resources and ideas to create the most exciting learning experience for their students. The institutes feature innovative ideas, competitive events strategies and professional networking designed to improve performance as a DECA advisor and increase student achievement. > PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS DECA s corporate partners provide scholarships to DECA advisors who wish to continue their professional development. > WEBINARS Advisors are invited to participate in webinar presentations on a variety of topics featuring content experts. If you ve missed a session, you can view it in DECA s virtual learning center. DECA Images offers teaching resources and curriculum materials relating to DECA s competitive events and career areas. <www.deca.org/shop WWW.DECA.ORG DECA 7
START A DECA CHAPTER DECA IS YOUR ANSWER FOR Motivating students to learn curriculum with recognition. Fostering a small learning community within your school. Engaging community and business partners in the learning process. Bringing visibility and support to the school. Providing advisors with curriculum, resources and professional development. Making a tremendous impact on students. ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR Encourage a faculty member to serve as a DECA advisor and integrate DECA activities into classroom instruction. Provide necessary resources for chapter success. Provide recognition for DECA members and advisors. MAKE IT HAPPEN! Visit with your faculty teaching business, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and marketing. Encourage them to review this material and watch the DVD. Start a chapter. FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.deca.org/page/learnmore Contact Christopher Young at (703) 860-5000 or christopher_young@deca.org ROLE OF THE ADVISOR Integrate activities that teach or reinforce specific academic and career standards. Engage your students in a small learning community and provide opportunities for leadership. Facilitate career preparation and goal setting among your students. Involve business leaders in various advisory roles and integrate the use of business leaders into classroom activities. YOU WILL BE A HERO 8 DECA WWW.DECA.ORG