Richardson ISD brings back popular business focused learning center

Even before we get to elementary school, we start to think about that big question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

There are a lot of options at this new learning center in Richardson ISD. 

It’s called Biztown, a miniature version of the city of Richardson with everything from the public water plant to a boutique shop to buy the right outfit. 

It’s a big, colorful life-size city, but if you think it’s just recess on steroids and wonder why a school district would invest in this, well, talk to the students. 

“We’re adding up the salaries and the operating costs and then that gives us the loan amount of money,” one told us.

Every business must be run completely.  From hiring employees to building a budget to turning a profit.  It’s math, straight from the curriculum.

“They can learn how to build those critical thinking skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, all of those other soft skills that we have heard from our business partners and industry partners that are also important in addition to the content and the core curriculum that they’re learning in the classroom,” said Melissa Heller, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Engagement for Richardson ISD.  

Heller also told us the district did this years ago.  The students who did it back then are now parents of their own kids and asked the district to consider bringing back one of their most memorable grade school experiences.

Those parents appear to be onto something, as we saw students assuming their new personas.

 “I work at the Hype Hub over there and what we do is we make a lot of content. Like my friend is a content creator and I’m the on-air host so I guess I do podcasts,” said Piper Brown. 

She’s trying to convince the residents of Biztown to listen to her show, so she can sell ads, make money, and be a success.   

Piper told us she got to look at all the jobs in the town and apply for the ones she wanted. 

“My second job option was I wanted to be an interior designer, because my mom is one, and then my third one I wanted the RISD superintendent, because when I want to grow up I really want to be a teacher,” she said.

Throughout the day at Biztown, the students dealt with challenges that pop up in the real world, everything from staffing to bank accounts not adding up.

Teachers and parent volunteers helped point them in the right direction, but it was the students who had to work together, partner with other organizations and drum up business. 

“So like all these jobs like State Farm, Ford, Bridgestone RSD, and Toyota is like a big opportunity for kids to experience,” said Kaden Pederson, who liked that Biztown had the same businesses he sees around town. 

“I’m at the Bite Size Bistro. What is that? It’s a food company that we try to sell stuff and make money off of the stuff that we make,” said Pederson, who also wanted to donate food to help those in need.

At the end of the lessons, all the different business owners will take the money they make and buy prizes to take home, but it was clear these students recognized Biztown was giving them something even more important to take away from this lesson. 

“I think they’re trying to teach you how to like, live like, be an adult, like so when you grow up you’re like ‘Oh, I’ve had experience at this,'” Brown said.