March 1, 2023 - The Catty Shack, the school-based enterprise at Mill Valley High School, was among 461 school-based enterprises achieving Gold Level Certification for the 2022-2023 school year. The Mill Valley DECA members who contributed to the certification were Libby Strathman, Sonny Pentola, and Jackson Rose with the assistance of their DECA chapter advisor, Dianna Heffernon-Meyers. The Catty Shack at Mill Valley has operated for 11 years and will be recognized for this achievement during the DECA International Career Development Conference in April.

A school-based enterprise (SBE) is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. DECA advisors have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.

For more information about DECA, visit http://www.deca.org.

Mill Valley High School DECA members (from left): Libby Strathman (senior), Sonny Pentola (senior), Jackson Rose (junior) and Dianna Heffernon-Meyers, DECA chapter advisor.

The Mill Valley High School DECA Student Members 2022-23