To help students to be "better positioned to grow and adapt" to the future, Connie Toler, PMP, left a successful career in the for-profit sector to become a secondary school teacher.  Connie started teaching business classes at Duanesburg Central School in Delanson, New York, USA, and searched for ways she could incorporate project management into the curriculum.   

Connie's students plan their project.

Contacting Tim Christiansen, PMP, and VP of Communications and Publicity for the PMI Upstate New York Chapter, Connie learned about PMIEF and subsequently used PMIEF's Curriculum for Secondary Schools to inform her work.  As a result of her efforts along with the school administration's support, students greatly benefited from the addition of project management into their business studies. 

Connie Toler, PMP

Students in Connie's first project management program took part in two projects, which they said helped them realize the value of skills such as effective communication, teamwork and organization.  Also, students successfully met project-related challenges, including meeting strict deadlines, and were very proud of their accomplishments. 

Connie was also very proud of her students, especially when five of them were invited to the 2011 PMI Region 4 Leadership Conference.  Tim Christiansen, PMP, said that the students' presentation detailing their experiences "was the highlight of the three-day conference."   

For more student feedback and details about Connie's project management program, download the case study here and read the extended story here.