When former kindergarten teacher Shannon Pogue began teaching at West Fork High School, she knew that she wanted to give students hands-on learning experiences and teach them skills that are useful beyond the classroom. 

This goal is evident in her two courses, Introduction to Business and Business Management. While Introduction to Business covers a wide range of foundational topics, Business Management takes those concepts a step further, giving students the opportunity to dive deeper into project-based learning and explore real-world business applications.

For one of their projects, the Business Management students assisted the WFHS booths in the NCISD Farmers Market. By collaborating with both the culinary and art departments, students helped market and manage the booths, gaining firsthand experience in the full business cycle—from product creation to sales. 

In their latest project, students wrote letters to local businesses to develop their skills in professional communication. 

“I believe in real-world experience, which is what brought me to the idea of the letter,” Pogue said. “We just finished up a unit on professional communication, and that is how we wrapped it up. I wanted both classes to gain hands-on experience.” 

For their letters, students were tasked with choosing any company or business that made an impact on them, and articulating why they chose to reach out to that particular company. This project touched on many essential skills, such as researching, contacting businesses, and mailing letters. In today’s digital age, where electronic communication is more popular than traditional mail, this was an eye-opening experience for many of the students. 

“Technically it wasn’t a challenging project, but it was definitely a project that teaches you skills that would benefit you in the business world,” said WFHS student Myriah De La Fuente. 

While the knowledge gained from the project was invaluable, the most rewarding part of the project was the unexpected responses from businesses. After sending 50 letters, students received responses from five companies, including Crumbl Cookies and the Houston Astros. Each response included a personalized letter to the student and branded merchandise, including stickers, gift cards, and a basket of Astros memorabilia. 

The positive responses not only excited the students, but also gave them a firsthand look at how companies engage with their audiences. Reflecting on the positive feedback the letters received, Pogue noted, “I was impressed by their letters. The project feels like a success, and it's been fun for the kids too.”