Following Ossining High's Lead

The Ossining Union Free School District continues to be in the spotlight. OHS' Business Department is now being recognized by the New York Department of Education and Business Teachers Association for being an outstanding model for other districts to follow.

Being singled out for excellence is Ossining High Business Teacher Debra Jacoby. Jacoby is being recognized for her creativity and innovation. She took over the business department four years ago. Since that time, she has updated and revamped the school's courses. The modified offerings include accounting, sports and entertainment marketing, career and financial management, as well as Microsoft Office.

“I try to give students real-world experience,” said Jacoby. “For some students, business is something they never knew they could do. Then something clicks and they want to excel."

This year, Jacoby's students will volunteer to help the elderly with tax counseling, one night a week during the months of February through April. Last year, her students won first place for analyzing, articulating and solving a Harvard Business School case study in front of a panel of judges.

Jacoby has also added a college level entrepreneurship course to her high school's offerings. With the addition, Jacoby hopes to bring students into the business world who might have thought that the program wasn't challenging enough.