Julie Moore is a Valpo Life in the Spotlight because she is molding the business owners and entrepreneurs of the future. Julie Moore teaches business and marketing at Washington Township High School, and prior to that she was a computer programmer and accountant.
Moore explained her reasoning for the career change by saying, “Teaching has provided great opportunities for growth in educating. I have always enjoyed teaching others.”
Andrew Guenther, one of Moore’s students, commented on his teacher and advisor, “Mrs. Moore takes education beyond the classroom and she sacrifices a lot of her personal comfort and time to better her students.” Guenther is part of DECA, formerly called Distributive Education Clubs of America, and now known as The Association of Marketing Students. “It is an educational/vocational organization, authorized by the US Senate and international community,” explained Guenther.
Moore has been a teacher, coach and advisor for the program. She has become instrumental to the students that participate in DECA, for which they have been able to participate in the District Career Development Conference and also the International Career Development Conference, a competition devised of challenges in business, basic management and marketing. This year the DECA Conference will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Guenther said of his advisor and coach, “Mrs. Moore has taken business and marketing to the next level, often taking learning outside the classroom and encouraging her students to take steps to further their future.”
Moore said of her passion for teaching and business, “I like seeing them (the students) become successful and learn. I believe you are a life long learner; everyone around you is.” She added, “I want to be able to give my students a lot of background information beyond just studying for a test, so that they can apply what they’ve learned. I want them to be able to have excellent communication skills because that is essential. Some of my former students have gone into business, law or pursued becoming doctors. Business skills are just good to have.”
She further expressed, “I like getting to know the kids and helping them. I see quite a transition in them. I believe a little help, compassion and friendliness goes a long way and it gives them faith in themselves; that they can achieve their goals. It makes me feel good that I can affect somebody’s life in a positive way."
Holly Evans a student of Moore’s, and also a DECA member, said of her teacher, “She is intense, but she makes sure you don’t fail. She is always here after school to help me with what ever work I have.”
Truly, Julie Moore is a Valpo Life in the Spotlight because she is making a difference in the young lives of our future.