It came as a surprise when Shania called an urgent meeting for her employees at the Science Museum of Natural Fun, the MicroSociety venture she managed at her Girls Inc. Sarasota after-school site. A nervous hush took over the workplace as worry filled the minds of the employees. In her time as manager, Shania had…
“PAY YOUR TAXES, PEOPLE!” Third grader, Sammy, barked right in Kyle’s face. Even though Kyle was significantly taller and stronger and older. . . and the richest entrepreneur at Farrell Elementary MicroSociety School, Sammy persisted. “Do you hear me?” A few onlookers giggled nervously. Mrs. Gallant, the facilitator of the agency, had seen enough…
Behind every public park is a story of community. Garehime Heights Park in Las Vegas is no exception. “We have a broken water fountain here,” reported 10-year old Tyler to the Las Vegas Department of Parks and Recreation, pacing the room, phone on his ear, as he awaited promise of action. Ty was…
Malik had ended up in Ms. Earle’s office, AKA the unemployment office. AGAIN. It wasn’t the first time. This time his manager, third grader J.J., had let him go for lack of productivity. Malik was caught with his head on the counter of the keychain venture he worked for during Marketplace time at Joseph Keels…
A year ago, neither his teachers nor his mother would have believed that Adam, a 4th grader with autism, could have passed this test. It started off like any other day, clinging to his trusty map as a guide, “taxi-ing” kindergartners around the Marketplace- all by himself. There was a time when Adam couldn’t…
“You need to go to the manager or owner with that. I am an employee, just like you,” said the duct tape wallet maker. He wished everyone would stop coming to him with questions. But then again, he was the biggest, oldest, coolest, and by far, the most overqualified employee in the entire MicroSociety village. He…
“Colby, I need you to start finding facts on the dangers of heating plastics,” Maya, the 4th grade manager of the Science Spot Laboratory, asked one of her top peer researchers. He nodded in agreement and started typing. “Colby,” Becky started again, “Can you do that for me? The news has been all over this topic.” …
Being bipolar, it was expected for kindergartener Jace’s mood to swing. Meltdowns and temper tantrums weren’t uncommon. However, no one including Mrs. Sumter, the principal, at his Las Vegas MicroSociety school, expected him to take a swing at a pregnant teacher. Now, Jace sat in Mrs. Sumter’s office, after a long talk about expectations and…
“This June, I’m going to buy this business from my teacher,” Serge proudly informed the school board member at Bring Your Parent to Work Night, Barkley MicroSociety Magnet School’s annual fundraiser. He glanced over at his father to see if he was listening, as he hatched his master plan. A year ago, networking wasn’t…
All it took was ants, marching through the MicroSociety Munchroom at Maximo Elementary for kindergartner Marisa Fountanez to hatch a vision; a business devoted to bugs. The shrieked “EWW’s!” of her fellow diners, as the ants made their way across the lunchroom floor just plain annoyed her. No one understood bugs…all they knew was…