2024 Society of Innovators Advocate for Youth Inductee - Krissy LaFlech

Krissy LaFlech (Munster, Ind.)
Business Teacher, Munster High School
Krissy plays a significant role in Northwest Indiana's youth entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem through her work at Munster High School and her broader community involvement. As an entrepreneurship teacher, she leads courses that reach over 150 students, including the New Venture Development class. Her guidance is crucial in the DECA program and the state’s Innovate WithIN pitch competition, where her students consistently excel, with recent teams placing third at the state level.
Beyond the classroom, Krissy has been recognized for her mentorship and support in developing essential entrepreneurial skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and networking among her students. Her leadership has also earned her accolades such as the 2023 Teacher of the Year award at the Innovate WithIN state finals and the Advocate for Youth Entrepreneurship award from the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center.
Krissy LaFlech is a high school entrepreneurship teacher at Munster High School, currently in her fourth year. She runs a hands-on business incubator where students develop and pitch their ideas in a Shark Tank-style format. With a background in the corporate world, Krissy brings real-world experience to the classroom, helping students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into actionable business ventures. Passionate about empowering the next generation of innovators, she is dedicated to fostering creativity, problem solving and critical thinking.
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Originally launched in 2005, the Society of Innovators annual awards celebration focuses on the spirit of creativity and ingenuity by discovering, honoring, and celebrating innovators from across the seven-county region of Northwest Indiana. Dedicated to the idea that anyone can be an innovator, the Society recognizes that innovation is the key to 21st Century competitiveness. Learn more at www.pnw.edu/soi.