“Hey miss, I might actually USE this!”
For Jennifer Wismer, that student’s reaction to learning how to budget and share expenses with roommates remains one of her favorite compliments. It captured what she wants students to take away from her classroom: practical skills that help them navigate life with confidence.
A Career and Technical Education (CTE) business teacher at Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS), Wismer helps students connect what they learn in school to decisions they will make about work, money and their futures.
Now in her 11th year in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD), Wismer was inspired to give back after her four children graduated from district schools. Her graduate degree in organizational management and a leadership in nonprofit certificate from Rice University provided a foundation for teaching business. A former human resources instructor also showed her how leadership and an understanding of people could make a difference across careers.
Today, relationships are at the center of her teaching.
“As a parent and someone who has worked with students who learn differently, I am passionate about building relationships, so students see themselves as capable and of great value,” Wismer said.
In her Business and Finance courses, students practice financial literacy, leadership, communication and workplace etiquette. They learn how to prepare for interviews, understand financial forms, work with others and make informed decisions.
Students often tell her those lessons have helped them outside school, from assisting their families with tax forms to navigating college and employment.
One student discovered a talent for accounting and went on to earn a challenging industry-based certification through NOCTI. The certification required written and practical assessments and offered an opportunity to earn college credit. For Wismer, the experience stands out as an example of what can happen when students discover an ability and pursue it.
That exploration begins when her students complete a career interest inventory and consider both their career goals and the interests they enjoy outside the classroom. Wismer wants them to see how their strengths, hobbies and experiences can shape their futures.
In IB Business, students build on that foundation by considering how they will improve their workplaces through thoughtful decisions and problem-solving.
“My aim is to equip students to be change agents who can use their skills to make informed decisions that positively impact their education, technical, military or career path goals,” she said.
Wismer is especially encouraged when students seek opportunities to collaborate, develop ideas and learn from different viewpoints. Whether they are preparing for college, technical training, military service or employment, she sees those skills as essential.
Wismer values being part of a community that shares responsibility for helping students succeed.
“Spring Branch has a strong legacy of balancing rigor with compassion,” she said.
Her hope is that students leave her classroom with useful skills and a stronger belief in what they can accomplish.
“It is my hope that by walking with students as they explore, I have helped them to see themselves in new ways,” Wismer said. “Possibility and potential are magical things!”
SBISD will celebrate T-2-4 Week Nov. 16–20, highlighting opportunities beyond high school through technical training, two-year and four-year colleges, military service and careers.
