Martin Schwinger, MBA

Welcome to CTE Business at Pieper High School!

I am excited to partner with you and your student for a transformative school year. In our classroom, we bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world execution. Drawing from 30 years of business management experience and an MBA, I structure our room as a professional workplace ecosystem where students learn to think critically, lead collaboratively, and solve complex business problems.

Our classroom operates on several core commitments:

• Mastery-Based Growth: Learning is evaluated on demonstrated skill and understanding, not speed or compliance. We treat mistakes as valuable diagnostic data points ("failing forward") and provide opportunities for students to revise work to achieve true mastery.

• Authentic Application: Students engage with real-world scenarios and strategic projects (OKRs) rather than rote memorization or multiple-choice testing.

• Truly Human Leadership: Guided by Simon Sinek’s Circle of Safety and Bob Chapman’s Truly Human Leadership, every student is supported with high standards, curiosity, and care as someone’s precious child.

• Curiosity Over Judgment: Adopting a Ted Lasso mindset to diagnose learning gaps and turning missed deadlines into 1:1 coaching conversations rather than punitive point deductions.

My Why:  To serve and guide others to feel successful and appreciated in their own lives.

To preview upcoming lesson concepts or review classroom topics, students and families can visit my YouTube channel, Getting Down to Business.

Please explore the attached documents below for a comprehensive look at my Teaching Philosophy and Guide to Mastery-Based Grading. Let's make it a fantastic year!