Ms. Flynn, alongside Mr. Sullivan, teaches several of Manhasset’s business courses— most notably Virtual Enterprise, a year-long class in which students run a mock business and compete with other teams in national competitions. New to Manhasset’s faculty this year, Ms. Flynn brings prior teaching and accounting experience to the classroom. She is also an advisor for the Marketing Club, which meets Friday mornings.
In an interview, Ms. Flynn discussed her experience settling into the department, some of her insights into the business curriculum, the marketing club, and the evolving influence of AI in the classroom.
The interview was edited for length and clarity.
Q: You and Mr. Sullivan are both new, and together you make up the entire business department. How has your time settling in been?
Ms. Flynn: Our time settling in has been great. Everyone’s been very supportive of us. I know everyone — from world languages to the math lab — really, really just want to see us succeed. I also know the administration is supportive of our efforts.
Q: Do you think students learn the same core skills across the different business classes? That’s to say, is a student taking accounting getting a dramatically different experience than a student taking business law?
Ms. Flynn: I don’t believe so. Accounting is the language of business, and then law is just something in tandem to that. I’m in charge of accounting — I was an accountant, I worked at two different midsize accounting firms, I was an auditor. And Mr. Sullivan also has 20-plus years experience in the industry. So for that reason, I think that students are getting an equal opportunity to learn and have an immersive learning experience with two seasoned professionals and also second career teachers, which adds another layer of expertise that not every classroom has.
Q: Say you had to pick: between the five half-credit business courses — Introduction to Business, Accounting I, Business Law, Business Communication, and Business & Marketing Procedures — which would you most strongly recommend to a student?
Ms. Flynn: I think Intro to Business is a great opportunity due to the fact that we are constantly covering a vast number of topics. Whether it’s learning how to open a checking account or how to apply for a credit card or even handle student loan debt, I think there’s a lot of things that can be learned. We also touch upon things like accounting, marketing, entrepreneurship, business law, and business ethics. There are all things that would be discussed further in depth in another class; so I always say that Intro to Business is like a snapshot into what you’ll be learning in the other classes.
Q: Right now, the Virtual Enterprise class competes on the Virtual Enterprises International competition circuit. This is distinct from DECA. Whereas the Virtual Enterprise class runs a mock business for the entire school year, DECA participants engage in activities focused on specific business scenarios. Manhasset already offers Virtual Enterprise; should it offer DECA too?
Ms. Flynn: I think that’s something that will require a larger conversation with more stakeholders. I think at this point — because we only had our inaugural year for virtual enterprise last year — we should be mindful of our capacity and resources. It is exciting to think about what might be accomplished in the next five years.
Q: If Manhasset were to offer DECA, should it do it in the form of a class or a club? Drawing from your own experience, what general value do you see in business offerings, like Virtual Enterprise, being a class instead of a club?
Ms. Flynn: In Virtual Enterprise, Students are responsible for creating an innovative product and overseeing all the business operations. Every student is assigned a department with specific tasks. I am a facilitator. I do not stand in front of the class and lecture about business concepts. As the “Chairwoman of the Board” I offer the students my previous industry expertise and ensure that every “employee” stays on track.
Students have the opportunity to earn six college credits through Virtual Enterprise, at a fraction of the cost. Students pay only $580 and would pay $10,000 if they were to take the same class at LIU. They are getting the same experience, but more guidance and individual attention. You could be in a lecture hall with over 100 people, or you could be a student in my class, with less than 20 students. You are having a teacher with real-world business experiences providing you that one-on-one attention. You’re not just a number. You’re a person.
I think DECA is most impactful as a weekly club. It has been proven successful this way at many other schools on Long Island. Ultimately, Virtual Enterprise offers students the opportunity to start a company from the ground up, while DECA prepares students to tackle business challenges.
Q: Speaking of clubs: you are now an advisor for the Marketing Club. What exactly do you expect the club to do this year? What kind of person should join the Marketing Club?
Ms. Flynn: Mr. Sullivan and I are co-advisors of the Marketing Club. Something that we hope to accomplish this year is having marketing professionals come in for a panel event and network with our students. We’d love students to learn more about graphic design, the UX, UI, and Adobe products. We’d also like to have in-house competitions, like the elevator pitch competition, which is a competition that you’ll see in DECA and Virtual Enterprise. Another goal of ours is to have marketing professors from various business schools come in and help students decide which program would be best for them and their goals.
Q: The Board of Education has hosted a town hall on AI usage. What role do you see artificial intelligence playing in business education?
Ms. Flynn: Virtual Enterprises International has their own guidelines and expectations regarding ethical use of AI. Over the past 2 years, more and more students have begun to rely too heavily on Artificial Intelligence.
It is important for students to tap into their personal interest and experiences for inspiration. Virtual Enterprise values unique solutions to a lot of shared challenges. My classroom is designed to be like a “think-tank.” The desks are purposefully not arranged in rows to encourage students to converse and brainstorm together. I tell my students I want their ideas to be organic and true to who they are — not what ChatGPT thinks will impress the judges. At this time, we are staying within the bounds and promoting ethical, responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, as set forth by VE.
According to the World Economic Forum, about half of all US adults lack basic financial literacy — however, many districts across the country, like Manhasset’s, are working to reduce that statistic. 29 states require students to receive a financial education in order to graduate, and the results of those efforts are already showing: 73% of US high school students today will graduate with a financial literacy education, compared to just 9% in 2017. Starting with a phased rollout in the 2026-27 school year, personal finance education will become required in New York State public schools, too.
In Manhasset, the business pathway remains strong and ever-growing. This year’s Virtual Enterprise class is substantially larger than last’s, and the district continues to introduce new business courses. With teachers like Ms. Flynn, Manhasset students will continue to be prepared for the real world.
