Round Rock teacher recognized among ‘Top 10 Entrepreneurship Professors’

Round Rock High School Marketing Career and Technical Education teacher, Tiffanie Harrison, was honored as a Top Entrepreneurship Professor of 2016 by 3 Day Startup, an award that was originally only meant for college professors. Harrison is the first and only high school teacher to make the list.

“Tiffanie’s accomplishment is a huge honor and win for not only Round Rock High School but for our students,” Round Rock High School Principal Natalie Nichols said. “We are incredibly proud of her innovative style of teaching, and how she encourages students to start entrepreneurship at an early age.”

3 Day Startup provides a program for college students across the globe but has made an exception for several Round Rock High School students to participate over the years. Their three day curriculum helps students learn what it takes to start their own business, and to go from early-stage idea to a viable venture.

Harrison was anonymously nominated by the community for connecting students with 3 Day Startup, and teaching them every day to create beyond the classroom into the workforce. The more nominations an educator received, the more likely they were to be included on the list. Although Harrison isn’t a professor, her impact on her students earned her spot on the list.

“I think that people sometimes underestimate the capabilities of our students,” Harrison said. “We are so lucky, we have the next CEOs, Presidents, Entrepreneurs, Dreamers and Creators among us. They shouldn’t have to wait until post-grad to explore these opportunities. Any time I can provide my students the opportunity to have real-world experience, to create something new, to capitalize on their youth, I am excited to do so.”

One way Harrison teaches students about entrepreneurship is through the Dragon Printshop she created. This print shop supports all students on campus by printing a variety of items, including cups, shirts, posters and wall decals, which provides academy students learning opportunities as well as supplying items to show school pride.

“In Dragon Printshop, we are able to create student entrepreneurs in an environment that has minimal risk,” Harrison said. “Over the course of three years, our young entrepreneurs have been able to increase revenues by 258 percent. This success far outpaces most startups.”