DECA is a business J-term class offered by Cathedral High School, led by business owner and Cathedral educator and Head Tennis Coach, Mr. Jeff Giles. The course takes place at Cathedral High School and only spans the course of the week in between winter break and the start of the second semester. It goes in depth into entrepreneurship, the formation of businesses, and how to get said business off the ground.

Giles outlined the purpose of the course and said, “it prepares students for DECA competition, that being business plan role playing, and taking a problem in business and making a solution for it.”

Giles executes this through various different ways. One being business role-play where one student acts as a judge and another a business owner. The student posing as the business owner comes forward with a solution to the problem and the judge must inspect it to determine if it can function. Another means for preparation is video analysis of business media like Shark Tank to help students get acclimated to business terms in regards to dealing with investors.

Giles also implements worksheets centered around competition within the market, marketing to gain new customers, and laying the foundation for a successful business. Giles splits the class into different focuses each day with the said sections being the topic for each day.

Not only this, but Giles implements a program called High School Hustles that is quite self explanatory. It is an organization that encourages students to form their own side businesses to garner experience and extra money.

Overall, the course is focused on giving students the tools they need in order to get their business dreams realized. I want to instill in my students entrepreneurship skills, fostering their spirit with entrepreneurship,” said Giles.