Building Resilience and Business Skills: One Teacher’s Mission to Change Lives

America is a nation full of people who aren't afraid to step up and take charge. That spirit of determination and personal impact is what drove Debbie Taylor, a successful real estate CFO, to go back to school, get a master's degree, and become a teacher.

When she moved back to North Carolina to be closer to her youngest son, a kicker for the Campbell Camels, Debbie saw the opportunity to use her extensive business skills in her role as a business education teacher and Director for Equity and Justice for Cardinal Gibbons High School.

What followed was a truly transformative learning experience that paved the way for America's youth to learn real-world skills with benefits that would last a lifetime. You can listen to her full inspirational story on the newest episode of the Freedom & Glory podcast.

Making an Impact: Teaching Business Basics to Cardinal Gibbons Youth

From day one, Debbie saw the potential to shape students’ futures in a tangible way. When she learned how many were interested in majoring in business at their local college, she knew she could create a program that prepared them for success beyond the classroom.

However, it wasn’t going to be easy. She would have to challenge a system that valued textbook memorization over practical experience — a challenge she was more than ready to take on.

Debbie explains, "I'm the type of person that if I run into a brick wall, I'm not going to retreat. I'm going to figure out how to get through it, over it, around it, or under it."

With this mindset, she built a program modeled after a mini MBA course, introducing students to a wide range of business disciplines and entrepreneurship lessons. By incorporating creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking, Debbie was giving them tools they could carry for life.

Learning Through Doing

Her lessons didn’t stop at theory. Debbie prioritized financial management skills — something many young people never get a chance to learn — and designed her program around active participation.

"You can cram information into students all day long," she notes, "But they're not going to retain it. The moment they take that information and they put it into action, that's when they learn."

This approach not only kept students engaged but also gave them confidence in applying what they’d learned.

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Program

Despite the program’s success, Debbie isn’t finished. She envisions creating an internship placement system that connects students with real-world business experience, along with launching the Cardinal Gibbons Business or Entrepreneurship Academy.

Her forward-thinking approach is a testament to the lasting impact one person can make when they lead with passion, determination, and a willingness to disrupt the status quo.

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And if you enjoyed Debbie’s story, be sure to tune into the Freedom & Glory podcast for more inspiring stories of Americans embracing resilience, self-reliance, and innovation. Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.