Starting next school year, a new class will be debuting at North Harford. The Career Connections Learning program (CCL) is preparing for an exciting year as students take on the challenge of running a real, student‑operated business. Designed to blend classroom learning with hands‑on experience, the program gives students the opportunity to build workplace skills while still having the support of a classroom teacher. Since this is the first time the class will be available, it is only being piloted with agriculture students or marketing students. Floral and plant science teacher Mr. Todd Stewart and business teacher Mr. Eugene Liebel are partnering up to mix their skills together.

     Liebel explains exactly what his role will be next year. “Mine and Mr. Stewart’s role is basically being the supervisors of an active business. But it’s also to mentor students and make business decisions to get this business up and running.” He anticipates that through real‑world customer engagement, students will learn how to communicate effectively, understand what drives sales, and practice marketing strategies that help the business grow.

     Because the business is brand new, challenges are expected. Liebel acknowledges that the team will likely face obstacles they can’t predict yet, but he sees this as an important part of the learning process. “Since [the program] is brand new, we’re going to run into roadblocks that we don’t even know are out there yet. But that’s part of running the business as well. You can’t really predict the job until you start doing it.”

     On the other hand, there is lots to be excited about when it comes to this next class. “I think it’s going to be great to get customer interaction,” says Liebel. “It helps students learn how to interact with customers and how to market to new customers and increase sales. 
”

     By the end of the year, the goal is for the business to become profitable, but profitability isn’t the only measure of success. The true purpose of the program is to give students meaningful, hands‑on experience that builds confidence and teaches them how to work in a professional setting. Stewart and Liebel hope that by the time students complete the program, they will walk away with practical skills and real‑world knowledge that will benefit them long after the school year ends.