Parsons High School students enrolled in Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG) journeyed down a path in recent weeks helping them envision the potential for developing their own businesses rather than working in someone else’s.
"Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur" became a four week project-based learning assignment where students, grades 9th -12th, created business plans and executed the details in 4 phases. The 4 phases were: Vision Boarding/Prototype; Marketing Mix; Mini Business Plan; and Business Pitch, PHS JAG Career Specialist Shayla Reliford explained.
“JAG-K is a Project- Based Learning program that encourages its Career Specialists to create Gold Standard PBLs to enrich the classroom environment,” Reliford said. “While we have access to a library of PBL activities, this year, my goal was to create a Gold Standard PBL that both challenged my students and complemented our learning environment.”
During the work weeks, the class welcomed Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Liz Cochran and Second Chance Education Center/Reach One Teach One Foundation Co-Directors, Lee Reliford and Mandy Monroy as guest speakers. They helped students make connections with their business ideas and encouraged them to take the project seriously.
“I was fortunate enough to get to meet with students in November to discuss their business plans,” Cochran said.
Some students worked individually and some worked in small groups to develop their business. Several students built off of existing business concepts to provide improved products, services, or experiences. Others worked to develop new business concepts. In all, there were about a dozen projects.
“The results and public products were amazing,” Mrs. Reliford said. “JAG-K students rose to the challenge and created creative, well drafted business plans that they presented in a ‘Shark Tank’ style simulation to several judges over two days. Not only was I amazed, but so were our judges. We welcomed members of the business community and PHS staff as our Shark Tank judges. They challenged students with probing questions and provided great insight and advice. 
“I am blown away by the amount of work and effort these students put in since that time and how well they listened to feedback from our first meeting,” Cochran said.
Having never taken on such a project, students encountered many new challenges in the pitch phase, such as dressing for success, speaking in front of a panel of judges to provide in-depth explanations, answering questions that tested their ability to think on their feet, and accepting constructive criticism.
In the end, after all the scoring was completed Kylie King was the winner of the in-class competition, with her business Organic Oasis. As the winner, Kylie received $150 in Chamber Bucks from the Parsons Chamber of Commerce to spend at local Parsons businesses.
“I say our first Gold Standard PBL was a great success,” Mrs. Reliford said. “I am so proud of all my students. Next, my students have the opportunity to enter their business ideas in the local, Young Entrepreneurs Competition in February 2026.
If a PHS student decides to accept the challenge, they will be the first to ever enter the competition, which consists of county, regional and state levels, each with incrementally greater monetary awards given to the winners.
“I am excited to see how these students continue to grow and look forward to the businesses they will bring to our community,” Mrs. Cochran said.