Fauquier High School’s (FHS) very own Business and Marketing Department has been recognized by Working In Support of Education (W!SE), earning one of the organization's highest honors, the Platinum Star School Award.

The Platinum Star School Award is only given to the top 33 schools across the United States. Showing proficiency among students and teachers, the award is given to teachers whose classes have a 93 percent passing rate, or an 85 percent average on the W!SE Financial Literacy Test, and have at least one class with that attainment. All students who pass the test will then receive the title Certified Financially Literate.

FHS’ Business and Marketing Department head, Frank Strano, has made a grand effort to use multiple different teaching strategies in order to cater to every student's learning needs. As a Business, Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship teacher, Strano uses methods such as lectures, videos, readings and practice tests so “they're seeing, hearing, and reading. No matter how they learn, there should be an option for them to get the information they need to pass the test,” commented Strano.

While the award has no physical prize with it, it does invigorate the teachers in the department with a sense of pride and accomplishment. “It proves the fact that we are effective teachers, that our teachers are committed to doing a great job and making sure their students are financially literate. So it's just an exclamation point on success,” Strano remarked.

A huge accomplishment for both the teachers and students, all members of the FHS Business and Marketing Department deserve congratulations for their commitment and hard work to academic success.