🔑 Week 3 Blueprint Report: From Adjustment to Academic Mode
To the students of Enrico Fermi, School 30 and Martin Luther King School, their parents, caregivers, and the academic leadership who guide them —
We are now wrapping up Week 3 of our CTE Business Administration journey, and I want to pause to acknowledge both the challenge and the growth of these opening weeks.
The beginning of every school year is an adjustment. New buildings. New classmates. New teachers. New routines. These first few weeks are about finding balance in a new setting, getting used to expectations, and building trust with an educator you may not have known before. That transition is real — and I want to thank you for meeting it with openness, energy, and resilience.
Now, as we close Week 3, it’s time to shift gears. Recess mode is over. Academic mode is on. The blueprint is in motion, and every single one of us — students, families, and educators — has a role to play in making this year one of intentional learning, growth, and excellence.
Why This Class Matters Beyond the Classroom
CTE Business Administration is not about memorizing facts for a test. It’s about preparing you for real life.
Financial literacy means understanding money before money controls you.
Civic engagement means knowing your voice matters in systems that affect your family and community.
Social-emotional learning means developing the strength to handle struggle and lead with humanity.
This is not extra credit. This is survival. Consider the facts:
Only 1 in 4 U.S. teens can demonstrate basic financial literacy by graduation.
American households carry over $17 trillion in debt, and poor decisions made in youth carry lifelong consequences.
Students taught frameworks of accountability and time management early are 40% more likely to succeed in higher education and employment.
This is why this class matters. And this is why your engagement matters every day.
The Four Pillars of Our Blueprint
We opened the year with a foundation: Four Pillars that keep us grounded.
Time Management – The Boss of Your Day
(Week 3 focus) Time is your most valuable resource. Manage it, or it will manage you. Schedules, deadlines, and priorities determine your success.Accountability – Owning Wins and Mistakes
(Week 4 preview) Power comes from honesty. When you own your success and your failures, you build trust and courage.Responsibility – Standing Tall in Your Role
Responsibility is not punishment — it’s proof of character. Every choice you make creates outcomes. Responsibility means standing tall in the face of both praise and pressure.The Power of Yet – Growth Over Perfection
Every “I can’t” needs a “yet.” Learning is not about being perfect — it’s about being persistent. Growth mindset is our engine.
Week-by-Week Blueprint Progress
Week 1: Welcome to CTE Business Administration — understanding the scope and power of this course.
Week 2: The Four Pillars — planting the seeds of our guiding framework.
Week 3: Time Management – The Boss of Your Day — owning our schedules and protecting our time.
Week 4 (Next): Accountability – Owning Wins and Mistakes — learning that responsibility is leadership.
Scheduling adjustments shifted a few lessons, but let me be crystal clear: by Week 5, we are back on track. Adjustments are not setbacks. They are business lessons in flexibility and resilience.
Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers: Your Role
No student succeeds alone. Research shows that:
Students with engaged parents are twice as likely to keep their grades strong.
Families who communicate with teachers regularly help their children stay motivated three times longer during academic challenges.
We are asking you to:
Stay intentionally engaged.
Use the communication tools provided.
Check in with your student daily — not just about homework, but about what they learned.
Step in early if concerns arise.
Your active presence is not just helpful — it is critical to your child’s academic and personal success.
Students: From Recess to Academic Mode
To our 8th graders — the adjustment period is behind us. You’ve had time to meet your classmates, adjust to routines, and get to know me as your teacher. Now it’s time to lean in.
This year, I challenge you to:
Treat each class as preparation for the future, not just the next test.
Be bold — ask questions, share your perspective, and push yourself.
Respect the classroom as a training ground for leadership.
Commit to excellence, even when it’s uncomfortable.
You’ve shown me that you are not just students — you are leaders in training. Leaders who will one day manage businesses, families, finances, and communities. The blueprint we’re building is about ensuring that when that day comes, you are ready.
For Academic Leadership
CTE Business Administration is more than an elective. It is a bridge between academic standards and the demands of the real world. It integrates business literacy, civic understanding, and social-emotional strength into one framework that equips students to thrive in high school, higher education, and beyond.
The intentional design of this course aligns with the broader academic mission:
Relevance: Students see clear connections between what they learn and how they live.
Engagement: Students are actively participating and proving they can rise to challenges.
Equity: Skills like financial literacy and responsibility provide long-denied opportunities to students from underserved communities.
Our students are ready. Our families are engaged. And our schools have the chance to lead New York State into its next chapter of financial literacy education.
A Final Thank You
To my students: thank you for leaning into the first three weeks.
To my parents and caregivers: thank you for supporting this mission.
To school leadership: thank you for entrusting me with the honor of leading this course.
We are building more than a class. We are building a generation ready to lead with knowledge, resilience, and courage.
Quote from Tyrone Glover:
"Financial literacy, business administration, civic engagement, and social-emotional learning are not electives — they are essentials. If we master them now, our students won’t just graduate. They’ll lead. And they’ll carry forward a blueprint that empowers not just themselves, but the generations to come."
— Mr. Tyrone Glover
Educator CTE Business Administration / CEO Leverage Credit Recovery / Executive Director Yonkers Young Entrepreneurs