HSLDA Online Academy | Business & Entrepreneurship

Business & Entrepreneurship

Master Teacher:  Amy Raybould Derstine

Amy Raybould Derstine, High School Classroom Teacher for BusinessMaster Teacher 

Amy Raybould Derstine

MA, Liberty University
BS, Liberty University

Amy Raybould Derstine graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in business economics and earned a Master of Arts degree in business from Liberty University. During her years of study, Amy assisted in teaching all age groups, ranging from elementary students to undergraduate and graduate college students. She has taught the Academy’s AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics courses since their inception, and is the Course Developer of the Personal Finance & Accounting course as well.

Amy is no stranger to the online education format. Prior to working at TD Bank and Susquehanna Bank, she served as the Director of Academic Advising for Liberty University Online.

She currently resides in New Jersey, where she has served as a Relationship Manager and Vice President in the banking industry.

Amy has been teaching with the Academy since 2010.

Classroom Teacher:  Sandra Miller

Sandra Miller, High School Classroom Teacher for BusinessClassroom Teacher

Sandra Miller

BA, Pepperdine University

Sandra Miller lives on Long Island, New York, with her husband and a group of shamelessly spoiled pets. A graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, Sandra considers education a life-long journey. She has completed professional certificates in marketing, personnel management, quality assurance, European politics, strategic account management, negotiating, and empowerment. She is currently working on completing an MBA.

Sandra’s professional experience includes a career with Xerox Corporation in a variety of marketing and management positions. Extensive business travel while working with Xerox’s largest customers allowed Sandra to visit all 50 states and many countries while gaining a global business perspective. Sandra has earned Xerox’s highest performance recognition as well as multiple National Leadership Through Quality awards.

After 13 years, Sandra left the corporate world to raise her children. She has many years of homeschool experience in addition to tutoring and teaching co-op classes. Her three children are all attending top-tier universities.

Sandra’s roots in Southern California’s beach culture have resulted in a lifetime of volunteer work dedicated to keeping our oceans clean. Her hobbies of hiking, horseback riding, and golf fill her free time. Growing up in four different countries and several states, Sandra developed a love of travel and the outdoors, a passion she shares with her husband and three children. A long bucket list of the most beautiful hiking areas awaits Sandra, her husband Tom, and their spoiled dogs.

Sandra has been teaching with the Academy since 2017. 

Classroom Teacher:  Robert Smith

Robert Smith, High School Classroom Teacher for BusinessClassroom Teacher

Robert Smith

MA, Gonzaga University
BA, California State University Fresno

Robert Smith earned his bachelor of arts degree in communications with emphasis in personal communication from the University of California Fresno. He then earned a designation from the American College in management, followed by his master’s degree from Gonzaga University in organizational leadership, with an emphasis in servant leadership. 

Robert has been honored to serve the Lord in many ways, including teaching leadership and business classes at Geneva College and serving as the dean of the school of leadership & vision at State Farm University. When he is not teaching business classes, Robert serves as the director of a homeschool community, the teaching pastor of a church, and as a proud homeschooling parent who understands the challenges parents face today.

Currently, Robert lives on a small farm in North Carolina, where he and his wife of thirteen years. He has six children ranging from 11 to 1 who bring great joy and excitement to the family. 

Robert is passionate about teaching and leading young men and women, striving to see Christ glorified and hearts strengthened in their relationship with Christ, and the application of biblical worldviews in their future profession. 

 

Duration: Yearlong course offered in fall/spring (32 weeks).
Suggested High School Credit Value: 1 credit.
Suggested Grade Level: 10th grade level and up.
Early Registration Tuition (ends 6/12): $475 $525 for HSLDA Members/$525 $575 for non-members.  

Description: In Business & Entrepreneurship, students will learn workplace skills, businesses operations, and best practices, from the perspective of both employer and employee. Students will also learn how to start and manage their own business.
Watch a short introduction by Course Developer Rick Stevens.
Watch a sample clip of an Academy live class session.

Business & Entrepreneurship  — Live Online Class Session Schedule,
August 27, 2018 - April 26, 2019

Class Section

Weekly Meeting Time

Instructors

Section 1

 Wednesdays, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Eastern Mrs. Amy Raybould Derstine
Section 2
 Mondays, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern

Mrs. Sandra Miller
Section 3
 Tuesdays, 1:00–2:00 p.m. Eastern

Mr. Robert Smith
Additional class times will be added as they become available for registration. If you have questions, please call 540-338-8290 or email academy@hslda.org.

Frequently Asked Questions about
Business & Entrepreneurship

Open All | Close All

  • What topics will I learn about in Business & Entrepreneurship?

    Business & Entrepreneurship is a yearlong course that will give students a general understanding of the business world and what it takes to start a business.

    Throughout the course, students will explore everything from basic economic principles, to securing venture capital for launching an IPO, and much more. After completing the course, students will have a solid foundation for any future they choose in the business world, whether as an employee or as a business owner.

    The course is broken into sixteen two-week modules. The modules will introduce students to the following topics, along with other business concepts:

    • basic economics 
    • basic finance and accounting
    • how to use your gifts & passions in the workplace
    • marketing
    • management
    • Christian leadership
    • business law
    • business strategy
    • entrepreneurship

    Students will be expected to watch online lectures, read relevant articles, participate in live discussions, conduct research, take quizzes and exams, read various business books, watch/listen to podcasts, and complete other real-world activities.

  • How much homework is in Business & Entrepreneurship?

    We estimate that the course workload will take 5–10 hours per week.

    During a typical 2-week module in this course, students will complete the following coursework:

    • 60–90 minutes of weekly live class instruction
    • 20–60 min. of a video lecture
    • 30–60 min. of business podcasts or presentations
    • 30–60 pages of reading in business books
    • Module projects, which may include 1–2 page writing assignments, Excel assignments, slideshow presentations, or other assignments.
    • Discussion forum posts

    Throughout the year, students will also complete the following tasks:

    • 1 midterm exam or project
    • 1 final exam or project

  • Am I ready to take Business & Entrepreneurship?

    Business & Entrepreneurship is designed for the 10th grade and up. Students are expected to be able to read and write at the 10th grade level, but they are not expected to have prior knowledge of how businesses operate.

    This course is designed to be fun and engaging for students who already know about business. However, it's also designed to be a smooth introduction to business for students who 1) may not know anything about business, 2) may not think they like business, or 3) are unsure of their future plans.

    Our goal is to help your students find their passions and develop the skills they need to accomplish their dreams.

     

  • What if I have a schedule conflict with listed Business & Entrepreneurship class times?

    All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.

    Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts. 

  • What is a Live Online Class Session in Business & Entrepreneurship?

    In every HSLDA Academy course, students meet weekly with their instructor and classmates in an online classroom for additional teaching, discussion, Q&A, or group activities. The class sessions are interactive and are conducted using a web meeting software with video, audio, chat, and application sharing capabilities.

    Scheduled, real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.

    When they register, students will need to select a particular class section and live class meeting time. Additional class sections may be added to the schedule at a later point in the course registration period. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule.

  • What is the tuition for Business & Entreprenuership?

    Please visit our tuition and discounts page for a full summary about course costs.

    HSLDA members save $50 on yearlong high school courses!

Site Copyright 1996-2018 HSLDA Online Academy
Phone: 540-338-8290 | Email: academy@hslda.org
1 Patrick Henry Circle | Purcellville, VA 20132
Privacy | sitemap
AP® and Advanced Placement® are trademarks registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.