Helping adults do a better job of meeting the educational needs of children.
That's a noble goal and one taken seriously by the people at Genesis School in Kansas City. But these educators are doing more than putting words on paper. They're taking action.
Genesis, a five-time nationally recognized alternative middle school for high-risk inner city youth, has developed computer software that helps teachers and administrators document the success and progress of their students.
The charter school also is exploring entrepreneurial paths that could lead to commercial distribution of its proprietary software to help similar schools around the nation achieve equal success in documenting the progress of their students, according to Pamela Pearson, principal and chief of operations at Genesis School.
Pearson and Alan Dubois, executive director of the school, directed creation of the software to aid in documenting information necessary to meet federally imposed mandates of the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind Act.
"The reason this software and the eventual business were created was to help adults do a better job of meeting the needs of children, be it in education or social services," says Pearson. "This software gives adults a systematic way of creating a learning profile using academic and social data to target student learning and growth."
Dubois realized the program - dubbed Genkofa Learning Profile software - had applications for institutions similar to Genesis. Consequently the proprietary software has commercial possibilities that could offer additional sources of income to operate and expand the school.
"The software will be sold to schools and districts across the nation with specific attention to alternative and charter schools," says Dubois. "Genkofa performs database collection functions and is a holster for data that measures point-in-time achievement and progress trends along with student behavior."
While Dubois is a long-time successful non-profit institution administrator, he realized he and his staff needed professional advice about venturing into business. A lead for such advice pointed him to the local Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IEI) and with MU Extension's business development program. There Dubois and Pearson found Larry Lee, SBTDC business counselor and associate director of the IEI.
"We have much to learn about private sector business operations," confesses Pearson. "We need to address a creative marketing plan, product pricing, strategic planning, operational restructuring, staff development, Pro forma budgeting, and legal and operational co-existence with Genesis the non-profit entity."
Lee is helping them meet these needs and asks a lot of questions in the process.
"Larry calls it the 'so-what' factor; he has helped us to understand we have a product that can make a difference for people while we make money for Genesis," says Pearson.
"Larry has agreed to offer assistance with marketing and strategic decisions regarding legal status. He introduced us to Institute staff regarding intellectual property issues and will be assisting with other relationships within the Institute when appropriate."
They've been working with Lee for only two months, but Pearson and Dubois are happy with the progress of the effort to make Genkofa a viable commercial product.
Says Pearson: "The SBTDC and Larry Lee not only provide services. They have given us inspiration through this partnership and their ongoing support."
And because of its entrepreneurial efforts, Genesis School will represent the SBTDC at the second annual Client
Showcase and Legislative Breakfast Thursday, Feb. 9, in the State Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City.
At that event hosted by the Columbia-based Missouri SBTDC, Genesis School and more than a dozen other outstanding Missouri companies will meet with legislators to discuss their products and services. They also will be recognized for their contributions to the economic development of the state of Missouri. Recognition from MO SBTDC will be accompanied by legislative resolutions presented by each company's district state senator and state representative.
For more information on the services of the SBTDC program, call Lee at 816-235-6429 or e-mail him at leela@umkc.edu
Visit the