Academy of Finance
Field Trip to Grant Thornton, 11/6/09
Vision
The Academy of Finance at Burton is a student-centered, small learning community that combines academic rigor - in classes at Burton and through enrollment in business classes at San Francisco City College - structured business internships, and community service in the planning and operation of Burton's award-winning Tax Office. Working in teams, students learn and apply business communication techniques and analytic skills that make them attractive candidates for internships and career positions. The Academy of Finance is open to all Burton students in good standing who are interested in making and keeping money, using it wisely, and becoming effective participants in the global marketplace.
Goals
First year Academy of Finance students learn about personal financial information and corporate financial information (e.g., debits, credits, and liabilities). Students explore how companies gather money and how to measure companies' performance by reading annual reports. Students will briefly cover taxes in preparation for next year.
Second year Academy of Finance students learn about marketing, taxes, and professional computer applications. Students will create a strategic marketing plan, develop a resume & cover letter, get certified to prepare taxes, work in a tax office and summer internship, and get certified in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Third year Academy of Finance students learn about personal finances and banking finances. Investing, corporate finances, and securities traders are major topics covered..
Academy of Finance Teacher Profiles
Patrick Flannery was born in St.Paul, Minnesota. He worked as a banker for 30 years, which culminated in positions as Senior V.P. for Bank of America and President of the Bank of San Francisco. After working in banking, he decided to volunteer at schools to teach young adults the road to success. He decided to teach at Burton after he was offered a job opening here by Mr. Mollinari.
Douglas Knight Singer was born and raised in the San Francisco East Bay and has been teaching in the Academy of Finance since 2005. He received his B.A. from UCLA and his M.B.A. from the University of Oregon. Doug then worked for six years in motion picture distribution for DreamWorks SKG. After leaving corporate entertainment to become a teacher at Burton, Becky Gerek and Patrick Flannery recruited Doug to teach in the Academy of Finance, for which he is very grateful!
Teachers involved with Academy of Finance
- Douglas Knight Singer
- Patrick Flannery
- David Knight
- Marsha Friesen