Fitzgerald, Paula

Contact Information

About Me

Ms. Paula Fitzgerald has been the business education teacher for 25 years at Wolfe City High School. She currently teaches Accounting, Business Information Management, Business Management and Entrepreneurialism Practicums, and Senior Success. Previous teaching assignments have included the Cisco Networking Academy. Ms. Fitzgerald has also taught at the post-secondary level at several private business schools, including a career school in Dallas where she was an instructor as well as the program director for legal administrative assistants. Ms. Fitzgerald obtained her teaching credentials from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She graduated summa cum laude receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education. Before her career in education, Ms. Fitzgerald was employed as an executive administrative assistant primarily for computer software and hardware companies/ departments both in the Dallas area and Greenville area.  

Today, Ms. Fitzgerald enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with young students as well as keeping up with the always-changing advances in business technology tools. She claims, “Continuous improvement is a life-long practice about being willing to try new and unfamiliar things and then making changes.” Her favorite school past-times are advising students in Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, and the Senior Class. She also sponsored the high school newsletter for 15 years. These activities keep her and her students engaged in community service, planning school spirit events, and having fun and laughs at school socials. Her greatest thrill is to hear from former students and learn what they have accomplished after graduation and then to share a few funny or awkward memories.

Believe it or not, Ms. Fitzgerald does have a personal life! She is the very proud mother of three Wolfe City High School graduates--Lauren, Brent, and Blake. Her highlights include being around a dinner table with family and friends or going for long walks along the beach, aka the pond. She likes to cook and has published 10 recipes in a family cookbook including annotations about special memories behind the recipes. She can be seen around her home planting flowers and shrubs, and she loves to ride bicycles along scenic roads and paths.

Ms. Fitzgerald says one thing that makes her happy about teaching is the opportunity to witness student success.  She hopes to get that feeling often and wishes everyone a productive and happy school year!

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelor of Science Degree, Business Education
Texas A&M-Commerce

Administrative Assistant Certificate
College of Business-Dallas

Fitzgerald, Paula

Daily Schedule

Period

Time

Subject

1st Period

8:00 - 8:47

Senior Success

2nd Period

8:50 - 9:37

Conference

Break

9:37 - 9:45

Break

3rd Period

9:45 - 10:05

Advisory

4th Period

10:08 - 10:55

Business Information Management

5th Period

10:58 - 11:45

Accounting 1 and Accounting 2

6th Period

12:18 - 1:05

Business Information Management

7th Period

1:08 - 1:55

Business Management and Entrepreneurialism Practicums

8th Period

1:58 - 2:45

Business Management and Entrepreneurialism Practicums

9th Period

2:48 - 3:35

Business Management and Entrepreneurialism Practicums

Course Outlines

Course Name: Accounting I

Career Cluster: Finance

Course Requirements: This course is recommended for students in Grades 10-12.

Course Description: Students investigate the field of accounting, including how it is impacted by industry standards as well as economic, financial, technological, international, social, legal, and ethical factors. Students reflect on knowledge as they engage in the process of recording, classifying, summarizing, analyzing, and communicating accounting information. Students formulate and interpret financial information for use in management decision making.

Course Enhancements: Students have the opportunity to compete in UIL and other competitive events.

Units of Study: Introduction to Accounting for Sole Proprietorships, Cash Control and Banking Procedures, Payroll Systems, Accounting for Merchandising Businesses, Careers and Ethics in Accounting

Grading Policy: Daily Work and Daily Quizzes = 40%; Tests and Major Projects = 60%

Course Name: Accounting II

Career Cluster: Finance

Course Requirements: This course is recommended for students in Grades 11-12.

Course Description: Students continue the investigation of the field of accounting, including how it is impacted by industry standards as well as economic, financial, technological, international, social, legal, and ethical factors. Students will reflect on this knowledge as they engage in various managerial, financial, and operational accounting activities. Students will formulate, interpret, and communicate financial information for use in management decision making. Students will use equations, graphical representations, accounting tools, spreadsheet software, and accounting systems in real-world situations to maintain, monitor, control, and plan the use of financial resources.

Course Enhancements: Students have the opportunity to compete in UIL and other competitive events.

Units of Study: Reinforcement to Accounting for Sole Proprietorships and for Merchandising Businesses, Acquiring Capital for Growth and Development, Accounting for Plant Assets, Depreciation, and Intangible Assets, Accounting for Inventory, Accounting for Partnerships, Careers and Ethics in Accounting

Grading Policy: Daily Work and Daily Quizzes = 40%; Tests and Major Projects = 60%

Course Name: Business Information Management I

Career Cluster: Business Management and Administration

Course Requirements: This course is recommended for students in Grades 9-10.

Course Description: Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to strengthen individual performance in the workplace and in society and make a successful transition to the workforce or postsecondary education. Students apply technical skills to address business applications of emerging technologies, create word-processing documents, develop spreadsheets using charts and graphs, and make an electronic presentation using appropriate multimedia software.

Course Enhancements:  Students have the opportunity to receive industry certifications as a Microsoft Office Specialist or Expert, and to compete in UIL and other competitive events.

Units of Study: Word Intermediate Technical Skills, Excel Intermediate Technical Skills, Access Intermediate Technical Skills, PowerPoint Intermediate Technical Skills, Project Management Communications Public Relations Portfolio Development

Grading Policy: Daily Work and Daily Quizzes = 40%; Tests and Major Projects = 60%

Course Name: Business Information Management II

Career Cluster: Business Management and Administration

Course Requirements: This course is recommended for students in Grades 11-12.

Course Description: Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to strengthen individual performance in the workplace and in society and make a successful transition to the workforce or postsecondary education. Students apply technical skills to address business applications of emerging technologies, create complex word-processing documents, develop sophisticated spreadsheets using charts and graphs, formulate advanced databases, and make an electronic presentation using appropriate multimedia software.

Course Enhancements: Students have the opportunity to receive industry certifications as a Microsoft Office Specialist or Expert, and to compete in UIL and other competitive events.

Units of Study: Word Advanced Technical Skills, Excel Advanced Technical Skills, Access Advanced Technical Skills, PowerPoint Advanced Technical Skills, Project Management Communications Public Relations Portfolio Development

Grading Policy: Daily Work and Daily Quizzes = 40%; Tests and Major Projects = 60%

Classroom Links

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education

All classes taught by Ms. Fitzgerald are part of the Texas Career and Technical Education Program. The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for CTE classes are listed as links from this site

https://tea.texas.gov/cte/

Microsoft Office Certifications

Students in Ms. Fitzgerald's Business Information Management classes are trained extensively for becoming a certified Microsoft Specialist. Her classroom at Wolfe City High School has met the criteria and is registered as an official testing facility. This site provides information and benefits about obtaining industry certifications and jump-starting a career.

https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mos-certification.aspx

UIL Academics Contests

Ms. Fitzgerald sponsors both the UIL Accounting contest and the UIL Computer Applications contest.  Students in Accounting and Business Information Management classes are potential candidates for these contests.

http://www.uiltexas.org/academics

National Geographic Learning

Student log-in panel for curriculum access.

https://nglsync.cengage.com/portal/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fportal

GMetrix Skills Management System

Student log-in panel for curriculum access.

http://www.gmetrix.net/Login.aspx

Tutorial Schedule

Please note that the schedule below is a general schedule.  There may be situations such as called meetings that would not make tutoring possible.  Walk-ins are always welcome, but it is recommended that students communicate their intentions regarding tutoring and check beforehand that tutoring is available.

DAY

TIME

Monday

Tutorial A: 7:30-7:55 AM

Tutorial B: 3:35-4:15 PM

Tuesday

Tutorial A: 7:30-7:55 AM

Tutorial B: 3:35-4:15 PM

Wednesday

Tutorial A: 7:30-7:55 AM

Tutorial B: 3:35-4:15 PM

Thursday

Tutorial A: 7:30-7:55 AM

Tutorial B: 3:35-4:15 PM

Friday

Tutorial A: 7:30-7:55 AM

Tutorial B: 3:35-4:15 PM