Baking Business Skills: Campo Verde's Corporate Academy Fosters Real-World Learning

Campo Verde High School's Corporate Academy is baking a sweet learning partnership with a local small business! The class is teaming up with Decadent Macaron, a local bakery, to provide practical marketing support. On Monday, August 26, students from the Corporate Academy met with the bakery's owners to discuss their goals and expectations for the partnership. By working together, the students will gain valuable hands-on marketing experience through a project focused on helping Decadent Macaron reach new customers.

Campo Verde High School's Corporate Academy is a hands-on, three-year Career & Technical Education (CTE) program that equips students with the skills needed to thrive in the business world. Through partnerships with local businesses, the program provides third-year students with an immersive real-world educational experience that goes beyond traditional classroom learning. By collaborating with a small business, students have the opportunity to put their education into practice while developing ‘real world’ skills that they can add to their resumes.

To ensure students receive the most authentic and impactful educational experience, Corporate Academy carefully selects local businesses that align with the program's goals. These businesses are typically sole proprietorships, rather than corporate chains, and are often relatively new ventures with an entrepreneurial spirit. Additionally, Corporate Academy strives to match with businesses in industries that catch the students' interests, ensuring a mutually engaging partnership.

To ensure the partnership is successful, Corporate Academy students must first fully understand the goals, mission, values, and operations that drive the business. To do this, Corporate Academy students first conducted research on the business' website, examined customer reviews and product offerings, and thought about what other important information is needed for a successful marketing campaign. Corporate Academy then visited Decadent Macaron to speak with the owners and gain a firsthand understanding of the bakery's operations.

The meeting began with a discussion about the history of Decadent Macaron, allowing students to understand why the business operates the way that it does. The students were then taken on a tour of the business, exploring both the back-of-house operations and the service area. During the tour, the students gained valuable insights into the intricate process of planning, baking, and resting all of the products, as well as the importance of maintaining a visually appealing aesthetic. The meeting ended with students asking questions and diving deeper into specific aspects of the business.

“The whole experience has been incredible so far.,” added Brigham Burnham, a Junior at Campo Verde High. “In this class, I’m able to foster a relationship not only with my classmates but also with the local community. I’m able to see a different side of the business world.”

The introductory meeting between Campo Verde High’s Corporate Academy and Decadent Macaron marks the beginning of an exciting year-long partnership. As the students continue to learn more about the world of marketing and business, they will be working more closely with Decadent Macaron to develop and implement business strategies. Keep up with Gilbert Gold to follow along.