MACPA provides High School Educators with teaching tools.

Nearly 100 high school educators walked away with new teaching tools from this year's High School Educators symposiums. The conferences, held April 16, 17 and 18 in Lansing, Grand Rapids and Novi, furnished educators with lesson plans, guides and videotapes to give students a better understanding

The symposiums featured former schoolteacher Joe Bittner, AICPA manager of Student Programs and Career Services. Attendees received a CPA Information Package, which was coauthored by Bittner, called CPA iPACK. iPACK features 15 comprehensive lesson plans and corresponding student activities with answer keys in five academic areas -- mathematics, social studies, economics, business education and accounting. In addition, attendees watched Takin' Care of Business, a video featuring five young, successful CPAs in exciting career paths ranging from FBI Special Agent to controller of the New York Jets.

"Thank you for the first-class conference ... It was well-organized, and we were furnished with materials we could use in our classrooms," said attendee Bill Huizinga, a teacher at Holland Christian High School. "I showed the video to my class today. It was well received. You have made a difference. I look forward to a closer relationship!"

The symposium also featured Kay Brzak, a licensed professional counselor from Michigan Virtual University, an on-line education and training resource for the Michigan workforce. Brzak provided educators with an Internet resource students can use to explore careers in accounting, such as www.mydreamxplorer.com. This site also allows students to compare colleges side by side. She asked educators to encourage school districts to utilize career-planning computer programs.

Each symposium included panel discussions by a diverse group of CPAs. The panelists discussed opportunities they have gained from becoming a CPA, and they taught educators about desirable skills and traits in students with high potential for becoming CPAs.

Panelists at the events included David Cassel, CPA, J.H. Bennett & Co. Inc; Amy Drouillard, CPA, Grant Thornton LLP; Anette Estrada, CPA, BDO Siedman; Dick Hanna, CPA, MACPA Chair-Elect of the Board; Daniel Lynn, CPA, Rehmann Group; Laura Marcero, CPA, Stout Risius Ross Inc.; Roy Pentilla, CPA, Department of Treasury; Ronald Vet Planck, CPA, Harold Zeigler Lincoln-Mercury; Julie Rogers, CPA, MSW Group, PLC; Linda Schirmer, CPA, Maner Costerisan & Ellis PC; Michael Wegener, CPA, Financial Advisory Associates; and Steven Wilber, CPA, Wilber & Townsend PC.

The symposiums support the MACPA's goal to work with educators at the high school level to broaden interest in the accounting profession. In January, the MACPA Board of Directors approved a new membership category permitting high school educators to become MACPA members; half of the symposium attendees joined the MACPA to receive ongoing up-to-date information on the CPA profession.

For more information or to recommend members for the high school educator category, contact the MACPA at (248) 267-3700 or e-mail macpa@michcpa.org.