From Coffee Shop Simulation to Student Startups
Leeann Curry teaches career technical education at Owyhee High School with a philosophy that diverges sharply from traditional classroom instruction. Rather than relying on textbooks and standardized tests, Curry structures her courses around practical, real-world business activities that challenge students to think like entrepreneurs and managers.
Her approach stems from decades of professional experience outside the classroom. Before transitioning to education, Curry owned a food service brokerage with her husband for five years while raising children. She also holds an accounting certificate and worked as a bookkeeper at the Owyhee district during the 2024-25 school year. From 2017 to 2023, she served as program and education supervisor for Nampa School District, a role that deepened her understanding of how to bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness.
Curry’s path into teaching was unconventional. Rather than pursuing a traditional education degree, she obtained a three-year career technical education certification through a state program designed for industry professionals—a route that allowed her to bring authentic workplace experience directly into her classrooms.
Curriculum Built on Simulation and Strategy
Curry’s course offerings span the full high school experience, with distinct learning objectives at each grade level. In her Business Essentials course for freshmen, students explore workplace expectations, resume building, and career pathways. A major project challenges ninth-graders to develop a target market complete with customer personas, branding strategies, marketing approaches, and appeals designed to attract their demographic.
The sophomore and junior-level Business Management class shifts focus to operational realities. Students simulate running a coffee shop, managing inventory, handling orders, providing customer service, developing marketing campaigns, and making hiring and firing decisions. Curry manages approximately 120 different student personalities in her classroom, each bringing distinct learning styles and motivations to these collaborative exercises.
Seniors can pursue the Business Ownership capstone course, where they transition from simulation to genuine entrepreneurship. Students develop comprehensive business plans, marketing strategies, and financial projections, then present them at a district office exhibition styled like a science fair.
Curry’s pedagogical approach reflects her core teaching philosophy. “I want to see my students apply what they learned and put it into practice,” she said. “I want you to know how to find the answers.” The emphasis on problem-solving and application rather than memorization or test performance has proven effective for her students.
Real-World Results
The practical nature of Curry’s instruction has yielded tangible outcomes. Nora Lindke, who graduated from Owyhee High School and completed Curry’s Business Ownership class, created a bakery business as her capstone project. The experience equipped her with skills and confidence that translated into securing an internship before her freshman year at Boise State University.
Curry’s commitment to real-world learning extends beyond the classroom. She works part-time at Java coffee shop in downtown Boise alongside her daughter, maintaining direct involvement in the food service and hospitality sectors that inform her teaching.
Her background as the daughter of Boise School District teachers suggests that education runs deep in her family. That foundation, combined with her entrepreneurial experience and formal industry training, positions her uniquely to prepare the next generation of business leaders and practitioners in southwestern Idaho.
For Latah County residents interested in learning more about CTE programs and educational pathways across the region, nearby community events and institutions continue to serve as gathering places for residents, and the broader network of Idaho educational institutions offers diverse opportunities for students at all levels.
What Comes Next
Curry’s Business Ownership students will launch their ventures in the fall, marking another cohort of high school entrepreneurs entering the marketplace with classroom-tested business fundamentals. Her approach—combining real-world simulation, hands-on project work, and genuine business creation—positions Owyhee High School’s CTE program as a model for workforce development in Idaho’s rural schools.