Colonie Central High School educator Susan Stone has been awarded the Broadview Innovative Educator Award, receiving a $1,000 grant to further enrich her curriculum with innovative, hands-on programs for students. Stone will direct these funds to Wolfie’s Den, a student-run store launched this fall as part of the school’s efforts to promote the district’s new Colonie Wolf Pack brand.

Wolfie’s Den is an initiative that unites the school’s business and graphics clubs to offer merchandise representing the new Colonie Wolf Pack identity. The store’s mission is to empower students with real world business experience while celebrating school pride and uniting the community under the refreshed brand. Students involved in the project gain hands-on experience in areas like inventory management, product design, and customer service, aligning with project-based learning.

Stone’s award will allow her to purchase a point-of-sale (POS) system for Wolfie’s Den, enabling students to manage inventory, track sales, generate product reports, and learn essential business operations. Additionally, she’s exploring options for integrating online payment through devices like iPads, working in partnership with Elevation Ten Thousand to create a seamless shopping experience for students and the community alike.

The collaboration between the Business and Graphics Clubs has been instrumental in making Wolfie’s Den a reality. Business Club members handle the logistics, sales, and customer interaction, while Graphics Club students design the merchandise and branding materials. Together, they bring Colonie’s new identity to life and learn skills that will serve them well beyond high school.

Congratulations to Ms. Stone for this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for your continued commitment to innovative education at Colonie Central High School!