Challenges of Pandemic Create Opportunity for Business StudentsOctober 23, 2020

Midland Independent School District press release

COVID-19 has made 2020 a challenging year for many, but Midland ISD's Business Academy is meeting those challenges by expanding class-offerings pertaining to digital communication.

"One of the challenges for students, teachers, parents, all of us, has been learning how to communicate digitally," said Mickala Harper, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE). "There's a certain importance in how things are presented digitally versus when you're talking to someone face to face."

Two of the first classes that students take once entering the Academy are Business Information Management 1 and 2. These Dual Credit courses are taught at Midland High by Michelle Navarrete, and focus on Microsoft Office products.

"Microsoft Office is the most widely used digital publishing tool in the business world," said Navarrete. "This enhances their value, as they'll learn how to do things like create memos and Power Points, which are critical skills in modern business."

As a part of the class, students can earn certifications in Microsoft Word and Excel, instantly increasing their marketability. Beginning next semester, the Business Academy will add classes on Outlook and Microsoft Teams, a platform for digital collaboration.

"A lot of things change when you're not working face to face," Harper said. "These classes teach how to communicate digitally, knowing your audience, and the communication process. "

Other classes in the Business Academy include Finance, Introduction to Business, and managerial classes. Thanks to dual credit, students could graduate from high school with up to 23 college-level credits specifically in a business discipline.

"These students will be so far ahead of their peers by the time they graduate," Navarette said. "Businesses would rather hire someone who already has these skills and certifications than someone who doesn't."

The Business Academy is just one of three academies and dozens of career pathways offered at Midland ISD through a partnership with Midland College.