Indian Hill Middle School hosts first-ever Business @ Breakfast – staff edition

Professional partners join educators for innovation-focused dialogue through the Indian Hill Entrepreneurs’ Center

The Indian Hill School District launched a new tradition this morning with its debut Business @ Breakfast – Staff Edition event, hosted at Indian Hill Middle School and organized through the Indian Hill Entrepreneurs’ Center. More than 30 professional partners from across the region generously donated their time to engage with educators in dynamic conversations about the world of work, the intersection of business and education, and the future of career pathway development for students.

“This event is about breaking down the walls between school and the broader world our students will enter,” said Indian Hill Middle School Principal Lauren Gentene. “Our teachers are excited to collaborate directly with industry leaders so we can bring fresh, innovative ideas into the classroom that prepare students to be truly future-ready.”

The breakfast gathering featured student leaders from the Indian Hill Entrepreneurs’ Center Student Advisory Board welcoming guests, facilitating check-in, and guiding attendees to their assigned tables for structured discussions. These conversations were designed to spark new ideas for curriculum, instruction, and real-world application, with printed prompts available at each table to keep the dialogue focused and impactful.

Indian Hill Director of K-12 Leadership and Career Development Jeff Damadeo emphasized the importance of such collaborations: “When educators and business leaders come together with a shared purpose, we create a powerful synergy. Today’s exchange of ideas ensures we remain intentional in designing pathways that prepare our students for the opportunities – and challenges – of tomorrow’s workplace.”

The event took place from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., with breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m., at Indian Hill Middle School. Guests were encouraged to network, share insights, and explore ways to embed career readiness into every aspect of learning.

“This is another example of how we are Leading Now,” said Indian Hill CEO/Superintendent Kirk Koennecke. “The vision for our Entrepreneurs’ Center has always been to connect our students – and now our staff – with real-world partners who can help us think bigger and bolder about what’s possible in education. Today was a tremendous step forward.”

The Business @ Breakfast – Staff Edition marks an expansion of the successful Business @ Breakfast series, which has previously focused on connecting community partners with students. By extending this initiative to staff, Indian Hill aims to ensure that innovative, career-focused thinking is woven throughout the district’s teaching and learning.

Photos provided.