Gerri Kimble
Business & Entrepreneurship Academy Teacher
School: Hoover High School
Location: Hoover, Alabama
Gerri is a Business & Entrepreneurship Academy teacher, at the largest high school in Alabama. She’s taught a variety of courses, including business technology applications, career preparedness, internet marketing, and management principles. In the fall, Gerri will be teaching her school’s first International Baccalaureate business management course. She also manages the school store and co-advises her school’s DECA chapter.
In addition to her regular teaching responsibilities, Gerri teaches a business course through her state’s virtual school. She’s an advocate for the advancement of business education and has served in the Alabama, Southern, and National Business Education Associations for years. She was the 2013 Alabama Business Education Association (ABEA) Teacher of the Year and recently completed her term as ABEA President.
Gerri worked in marketing before beginning her teaching career. She’s run a web services business and has done consulting work for companies and a university. She has an undergraduate degree in computer information systems from Alabama State University and a master’s degree in business education from Auburn University.
We asked Gerri a few questions. Her answers are below:
WHAT STUKENT COURSEWARE HAVE YOU USED?
I use the Marketing Strategies e-textbook and the Mimic Social simulation in my internet marketing class. I taught social media marketing before there were educational resources for the high school classroom. “Winging it” was tough because the subject was new (to me) and so ever-changing. I’d been eyeing Stukent and its products for higher ed, so I was thrilled when the high school products were released. It boosted my confidence BIG TIME in teaching the course.
WHAT TEACHING TIPS WOULD YOU SHARE WITH OTHER PROFESSORS?
I recommend anyone teaching or integrating digital or social media marketing to expose your students to an industry certification. I’ve had students earn Google Ads certification, for example. Next year, I plan to aim for Google Analytics or whatever other certification will give my students relevant, right-now skills.
It also helps to show students that you, too, are a student of the industry — to model lifelong learning. There may be days when you’re practically learning something new right along with your students. You have to be okay with that.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND TALENTS?
When I’m not teaching, my husband, two daughters, and I enjoy spending time with our families, being outdoors, traveling, and Alabama football games. When no one is bothering me (ha!), I enjoy a good book or Netflix series.
CONNECT WITH GERRI
Thank you, Gerri, and congratulations!