IDEA Graduate Jasmine Benton won the 2019 Business Venture of the Year at the NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York, earning her $7,500 and an investor to help grow her business. When she isn’t running her business or turning heads as an entrepreneur, Benton is enrolled as a Oklahoma Christian University.- Jasmine Benton, CEO Precious Designs 

Did you know that 72% of high school students have considered starting their own business, yet 62% are never offered a course in entrepreneurship? High school students are our most underutilized creative resource- if we can successfully engage their talents, we'll unlock innovative solutions to the worlds's most pressing problems. So, how can we encourage their entrepreneurial ambitions?- Seed Spot 

We believe that our students have the power to change the world, so we teach them to harness that power into the development of a business. At IDEA, we teach students about the Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it ís important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030. We use the SDG's to help students identify their PASSION.  Our students learn about the importance of EMPATHY in the design process and with the help of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship curriculums, students begin their journey of building, launching and scaling their business to innovate with a PURPOSE to impact becoming social entrepreneurs understanding that their business exists for more than financial gain.  

The Social Entrepreneur Journey at I.D.E.A 

Year 0: NFTE Emerging Entrepreneurs Camp (Summer after 8th Grade)

The program begins with a summer immersive co-curricular experience that prepares students for Entrepreneurship. The camp is An introduction to basic entrepreneurship concepts. Students use a lean business model canvas to plan out a unique business idea and can earn prizes and recognition in a capstone pitch competition and students grapple with  society’s largest challenges. Students will explore their own interests, learn how to frame a problem, and begin to design their unique path through I.D.E.A.

Year 1:  Open House Shark Tank: NFTE Family Venture 

To help parents understand + develop empathy for the work their students will do at IDEA. Parents  will participate in the entrepreneurship experience that guides students through the process of building their own virtual business using a food truck scenario.

Year 1: NFTE World Series of Innovation, IDEA Global Lit (Humanities), Web Design I & II(Dual Credit)  

During year 1, students will investigate an important national or global problem (Sustainable Development Goals)  through an out-of-the-box learning experience that will challenge students to discover new areas of study to better prepare students for the careers of the future by focusing on the development of an adaptive and entrepreneurial mindset.

Year 1 Summer: Freshman Seminar

To provide students with the space needed in their schedule for the IDEA internship students will complete a fine arts credit: Music Appreciation + complete the I.D.E.A. Toastmasters Public Speaking course to help prepare them for shark tank events. 

Year 2: NFTE Entrepreneurship I + Introduction to Interactive + Digital Media (Dual Credit)  

In the sophomore year, students focus on the the entrepreneurial mindset as they  learn how to create an original lean business model plan and pitch their business. Students are eligible to enter the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, where NFTE students compete for seed capital to launch their business or pursue educational goals.

Year 2 Summer: Sophomore Seminar 

Students begin to explore their first IDEA internship with programs such as Capital One +Verizon to begin using the skills learned in Years 1 and 2. Students also participate in bootcamps planned for SAT. Certain students  take Computer Science Principles. Students will also work with advising staff and advisory board members to help identify the kinds of problems they are most interested in solving. So that when it’s time to officially declare a a start tech idea, they  will feel confident that the path they select will empower them to reach their fullest potential in the course. 

Year 3: NFTE Start Up Tech + IDEA Internship + Information Technology  Special Topics (Dual Credit) 

In this program that blends entrepreneurship and app development through the creation of a business plan as students learn how to build a marketable product. Students are eligible to pitch their app-based business ideas in an expo format for seed capital and prizes.  Students can participate in the school day Internship and their Special Topics 

Year 3: Junior Seminar: Internship + College Preparation 

Students participate in the internship and/college preparation for ACT. Students also have the opportunity to complete microcerts and Amazon Future Engineering Computer Science Courses.

Year 4: NFTE Entrepreneurship II + IT Practicum + Amazon Future Engineer Computer Science (Optional) 

This year is focused on business model validation, product development, and marketing. Students completing E2 are prepared to take the Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) certification exam, one of the offerings in Pearson’s Certiport® Business Fundamentals Certification Program. Students are eligible to enter an investment panel and compete for seed capital to operationalize their business. Students will also be eligible for a Dallas College Level I Certificate in I.T. 

Pay It Forward

You will be encouraged to continue engaging in IDEA through several leadership opportunities and experiences such as guest speaking, student and staff recruiting, mentoring, volunteering, and becoming a Community Champion for the school to continue to grow the school.

"Don't ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, but what problems do they want to solve."

-Jamie Casap, Google's Chief Education Evangelist