Dunwoody High School Finance Academy’s Fortenberry to retire in December

Finance Academy instructor Steve Fortenberry DHS Principal Tom Bass and longtime coach Roger Gay taken Nov during Fortenberry s final trip to New York Photo by Jennifer Boettcher Steve Fortenberry who left the business world in to begin a finance academy at Dunwoody High School that has changed thousands of lives is retiring in December I m turning and it just seemed like it was time Fortenberry informed Rough Draft It seems like I ve lived my whole life at Dunwoody I graduated from here I taught here and my kids went here Dunwoody s Finance Academy began in with just students with the goal of evolving into a mini-MBA effort that taught real-life lessons in entrepreneurship marketing international business finance and AP macroeconomics Fortenberry estimates that students have gone through the two-year effort Related stories Students learn real-life lessons about finances in high school classes Dunwoody High School supporters want to bring it home with stadium expansion Bass Fortenberry named parade grand marshals The highlight of the effort is the academy s annual trip to New York City where students meet with executives from Goldman Sachs the National Football League Amazon and Google The group also visits the New York Stock Exchange goes to Broadway plays and museums while navigating the city s subway system The trip s highlight for him Fortenberry noted is a group dinner in Little Italy which is very much a bonding experience Jennifer Boettcher who is at this moment on the academy s trip with her son advised Rough Draft on Nov that she is witnessing Fortenberry in his element Watching him guide more than students and dozens of parents through the city on subways in boardrooms and everywhere in between is nothing short of remarkable He makes it all look effortless Boettcher reported She stated Fortenberry challenges his students in the best achievable procedures preparing them for the real world by encouraging confident population speaking sound financial habits and a willingness to push beyond their comfort zones DHS Principal Tom Bass revealed Fortenberry detected his calling to be a beacon of positivity and love for each apprentice and adult with whom he comes in contact He has been a determining factor in what makes Dunwoody so special and how students grasp the essence of Wildcat Pride Former students and parents chimed in with high praises for Fortenberry and the impact he has had on their lives Emily Craddock Thomas an academy candidate who graduated in noted his passion for teaching was evident at all times He cared about us as people not just as students and it demonstrated in everything he did Thomas declared Our Academy of Finance trip to NYC is one of my favorite memories because he made it an experience that opened our eyes to future possibilities Audra Anders whose two sons went through the academy reported she not long ago uncovered a handwritten note from Fortenberry to her son when he was in his first year of college Boys don t save things mine saved this letter because it obviously meant so much she announced The love and strength he poured into all his students is so clear Anders has also participated in the DHS Finance Academy as a coach and judge Being a part of the power in Steve s classroom has been a elation and a gift she declared Learning of his retirement brought a pang of sadness for the students who won t experience his teaching at Dunwoody High School Fortenberry s interest in the students he taught goes far past their high school years announced parent Cindy Gebhardt whose son Steve and daughter Katherine were finance academy activity students When her son known by a large number of as Stevie D was hospitalized in after ingesting a fatal dose of Xanax laced with Fentanyl Fortenberry was the first person to show up at the facility to sit vigil To this day he calls texts Kat to see how she is doing and takes her to lunch Gebhardt noted He cares so deeply for his students and I know for a fact he has helped change the program of so a large number of Dunwoody kids Former participant Ryan Gaines class of reported Fortenberry s financing in the people at DHS with his contagious spirit has inspired generations of students to lead impactful lives in their communities Fortenberry revealed he is proud of his students not just for their business achievements beyond the classroom but for the quality human beings they have become Yes there have been a lot of entrepreneurs and business leaders who have come out of the class but also a lot of great moms and dads he revealed I m also proud that we have a lot of graduates who ve come back to teach at Dunwoody Tom Bass left and Steve Fortenberry were named the parade grand marshals as Dunwoody High School celebrated its th year In fact two DHS graduates are set to take over the campaign D R Keen and Ryan Gentry It s their time now Fortenberrry announced I will miss the relationships I ve developed with students and their families and it s tough leaving Bass and the teachers but I m still going to be around and still involved in Bring it Home a charity event to expand the Dunwoody High School stadium Fortenberry commented he s not sure of his next professional policies but knows that there s going to be a time my wife is going to be sick of seeing me I ll need to do something but not sure of what that will be he revealed Bass commented that although life will continue without his partner in crime there will dependably be a little something missing He is so beloved and will be missed tremendously The post Dunwoody High School Finance Academy s Fortenberry to retire in December appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta