Kaitlin Pniewski Urbanovitch |
| When she started as a student at South Forsyth High School, Katie Pniewski had wanted to be an elementary school teacher. But after discovering a love of business and marketing, she found herself moving down a new path. Not an unusual story for any student - however, she found her two passions merging after graduation, returning to her alma mater (now married and going by Katie Urbanovitch) and becoming a marketing teacher in one of the most successful and decorated Business & Marketing programs in the state of Georgia. Now approaching nearly a decade of teaching, she is right where she wants to be. What did you study in college? In college, I changed my major three times. I started out as a marketing major, then switched to advertising, and ended up graduating with a degree in public relations. |  Kaitlin Pniewski Urbanovitch '06 Marketing Teacher at SFHS |
Mrs. Urbanovitch collaborates with some marketing students on a project. So what changed for you, and brought you back to SFHS as a teacher?
When I started high school, I had wanted to be a teacher, probably early elementary. I took a lot of art classes then. As I went through high school, I discovered that I had a passion for marketing, and took so many of those classes that I wanted to pursue that. I realized quickly during my marketing major just how much math was involved - accounting, finance, economics, even calculus - which were not my best areas. That led me to advertising, but I decided to narrow my career path to possibly event planning or hospitality, which is why i studies public relations. When I was a senior in college, I realized my desire for teaching was still there, so I stayed at the University of Georgia to earn a master’s degree in marketing education to blend my two passions.
This is now my ninth year as a high school marketing teacher at SFHS, and I think I have the best job in the world. SFHS prepared me incredibly well. I worked with real businesses in my high school marketing classes. When I started UGA, I was surprised that we wouldn’t really work with a real business in our classes until junior or senior year. Most of my first level classes in marketing, advertising, and public relations covered material I already learned in my marketing classes at South.
What were some of your best high school memories?
When I was in high school, DECA organized the homecoming dance. Each year I enjoyed helping with homecoming, but my senior year I really had the opportunity to lead the planning and carry out my vision for the dance. We got the miss an entire day of classes to decorate. It was a blast. Getting to take on leadership roles in DECA and some other organizations, like National Technical Honor Society and Key Club, helped me grow as a person and were also a lot of fun.
Lots of my best high school memories are from hanging out in places my current students would think are “really far away.” Hanging out at places like North Point Mall, The Regal Movie Theater at Medlock Crossing, and the Forum in Norcross. We were not lucky enough the have the Collection across the street yet.
Would you recommend students who aren't interested in marketing and business still take some of your classes?
Absolutely! As a PR major, I learned a large amount of journalism and writing skills, and I bring those lessons into my classes to help my students become better writers. I tell students all the time that there are a huge number of applications for what we learn in marketing classes - you can apply what we teach in marketing to almost any profession. Want to be a doctor? You've got to know how to market your practice. A lawyer? Now is the time to develop your public speaking and writing skills! A dentist? How are you going to get new patients? A stay-at-home mom? You have to understand how to manage a budget. We also teach interview skills in our classes. No matter what you do, you will most likely need to interview.
As a teacher, what things would you tell students to think about besides academics?
The sincerest advice I could give would be to not spend so much time worrying about homework, AP classes, studying, GPA, tests, etc. My advice would be to go to football games, go to homecoming, compete in DECA, compete in anything. Challenge yourself in ways not directly tied to your GPA. Put your phone down. Talk to the awkward kid. Thank your parents. Think about your beliefs. Uninstall social media even if just for a small amount of time. Make new friends. Get an after school job. Look people in the eye. Most of all, enjoy the high school experience, because you only get to do it once - unless you come right back after college and stay in high school forever.
When I started high school, I had wanted to be a teacher, probably early elementary. I took a lot of art classes then. As I went through high school, I discovered that I had a passion for marketing, and took so many of those classes that I wanted to pursue that. I realized quickly during my marketing major just how much math was involved - accounting, finance, economics, even calculus - which were not my best areas. That led me to advertising, but I decided to narrow my career path to possibly event planning or hospitality, which is why i studies public relations. When I was a senior in college, I realized my desire for teaching was still there, so I stayed at the University of Georgia to earn a master’s degree in marketing education to blend my two passions.
This is now my ninth year as a high school marketing teacher at SFHS, and I think I have the best job in the world. SFHS prepared me incredibly well. I worked with real businesses in my high school marketing classes. When I started UGA, I was surprised that we wouldn’t really work with a real business in our classes until junior or senior year. Most of my first level classes in marketing, advertising, and public relations covered material I already learned in my marketing classes at South.
What were some of your best high school memories?
When I was in high school, DECA organized the homecoming dance. Each year I enjoyed helping with homecoming, but my senior year I really had the opportunity to lead the planning and carry out my vision for the dance. We got the miss an entire day of classes to decorate. It was a blast. Getting to take on leadership roles in DECA and some other organizations, like National Technical Honor Society and Key Club, helped me grow as a person and were also a lot of fun.
Lots of my best high school memories are from hanging out in places my current students would think are “really far away.” Hanging out at places like North Point Mall, The Regal Movie Theater at Medlock Crossing, and the Forum in Norcross. We were not lucky enough the have the Collection across the street yet.
Would you recommend students who aren't interested in marketing and business still take some of your classes?
Absolutely! As a PR major, I learned a large amount of journalism and writing skills, and I bring those lessons into my classes to help my students become better writers. I tell students all the time that there are a huge number of applications for what we learn in marketing classes - you can apply what we teach in marketing to almost any profession. Want to be a doctor? You've got to know how to market your practice. A lawyer? Now is the time to develop your public speaking and writing skills! A dentist? How are you going to get new patients? A stay-at-home mom? You have to understand how to manage a budget. We also teach interview skills in our classes. No matter what you do, you will most likely need to interview.
As a teacher, what things would you tell students to think about besides academics?
The sincerest advice I could give would be to not spend so much time worrying about homework, AP classes, studying, GPA, tests, etc. My advice would be to go to football games, go to homecoming, compete in DECA, compete in anything. Challenge yourself in ways not directly tied to your GPA. Put your phone down. Talk to the awkward kid. Thank your parents. Think about your beliefs. Uninstall social media even if just for a small amount of time. Make new friends. Get an after school job. Look people in the eye. Most of all, enjoy the high school experience, because you only get to do it once - unless you come right back after college and stay in high school forever.
Mrs. Urbanovitch, in school known as Katie Pniewski, was a member of DECA (the marketing student co-curricular organization), Key Club and NTHS (National Technical Honor Society). She competed in national and international marketing competitions, and received two 1st place wins at state DECA competitions, as well as 6th place at the International Career Development Conference.
2 Comments
Frankel
2/20/2020 05:02:22 am
LOVE THIS❣️
Thanks for taking the time to write this...Katie is awesome!
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