The NRF Foundation RISE Up program caters to students of all ages and experience levels. In King George, Va., RISE Up is used to introduce the concept of retail to some newer employees — teenagers. Through the NRF Foundation RISE Up curriculum and exams, teachers at King George High School have been able to advance the education they offer their students, offering real world knowledge and, of course, a credential to impress future employers.
Dee Strauss, marketing teacher and DECA advisor at KGHS, tells us how the RISE Up program sets her classroom ahead and makes differences in her students’ lives.
How does RISE Up assist in the classroom?
Strauss instructs marketing and sports entertainment marketing classes with the RISE Up curriculum. “We can instruct our students with a lot of information, but when there’s something else that can highlight what we’re saying, it really adds to the classroom and to the students’ learning,” she says.
Many features of the RISE Up curriculum work well for these marketing classes. “The slideshows are so informative,” Strauss says. “It’s very flexible. Everything can be put into places where we want it to go.” Instructors can take the course materials, rearrange them to fit their pre-existing lesson plans and make the RISE Up materials work in an optimal way for their students. “It’s not overwhelming. You can take the whole semester and go through each part of the PowerPoint.”
After-school application
Students take this knowledge and are able to apply it to real retail experiences. Marketing students have been running the KGHS school store for over 20 years. “Students focus on all of the operations that go into running the store. They figure out what they’re going to sell, they do all their research, and they figure out how to promote things,” Strauss says. By taking the RISE Up course, students gain the knowledge to make this a largely independent process.
The school store was open each school day during lunch but the students decided they wanted to expand operations. “The kids wanted to try to make more money in another fashion,” Strauss says. The store was opened for an additional 15-20 minutes after school to sell snacks. “When kids are staying for practices and getting to the bus, we open the school store and sell candy, chips, Gatorade, water and sweet tea,” she explains. “It took a lot of time and effort, but it was profitable.”
Long-term benefits
Students in marketing courses at KGHS really enjoy the use of RISE Up in their classrooms. “I think that they are excited to get that certification,” Strauss says. “They know that it’s not a school test, it’s something extra. It’s something adult.”
Strauss says that RISE Up has made quite an impact on students’ lives. “I’ve had students that will reach out years after they’ve been out of my class and ask for their certificate. They put it on their resume, and it really sets them apart.” Students not only have the certificate to add to their resume, but they are well prepared to handle interviews, customer service and any other skills they’d need in the retail sphere.
“Over the years, I’ve had so many students that have come back to me and said ‘Ms. Strauss, I got the job because I had that credential,’” Strauss says. “So, in my mind, it’s worth it.”
RISE Up is the NRF Foundation training and credentialing program that provides foundational employability skills to help people land jobs and get promoted in retail and beyond.
Our curriculum and exams are industry-recognized and were developed in collaboration with more than 20 retailers, including Walmart, Macy’s, The Home Depot, Burlington Stores, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Nordstrom. And we’re proud to partner with more than 3,000 training partners across the country.
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