Gilbert Christian Schools

At a Glance

In 2024, Gilbert Christian Schools (GCS) in Gilbert, Arizona, launched a vibrant new entrepreneurship program with the vision of empowering students through real-world experience and faith-centered learning. This vision, cast by Principal Talbott Behnken and supported by the superintendent and school board, was brought to life through a partnership with Seed Tree Group and the leadership of teacher Jason Pasquariello, who became the driving force behind the program’s classroom success.

The Big Opportunity

Mr. Behnken, who had previously connected with Stephen Carter, entered the 2023–2024 school year eager to bring a transformative entrepreneurial experience to GCS. With full administrative backing, the school turned to Seed Tree Group to help turn that dream into a sustainable reality.

Gilbert Christian saw the Foundations of Entrepreneurship class as a strategic way to equip students with critical thinking skills, a service-minded approach to leadership, and the entrepreneurial mindset—all while staying deeply rooted in a Christ-centered mission.

Empowering the School

In spring 2024, Jason Pasquariello began working directly with Stephen Carter to implement the Seed Tree Foundations of Entrepreneurship curriculum. The program launched with four sections of the class and 71 students, quickly becoming a standout feature of the school year.

Under Jason’s guidance, students engaged deeply with the entrepreneurial mindset, not just through lessons but through action. They launched and operated several student-led ventures, including a campus café, a Friday morning student news show, and the management of on-campus vending machines. Jason’s leadership and enthusiasm played a key role in maintaining student engagement, even in the fourth quarter when “senioritis” might typically set in.

As Jason shared, “It has been a great experience, and the students bought in right away. Their enthusiasm for the class and running our businesses has been a pleasant surprise. They are engaged and having fun while developing the mindset we reinforce throughout the course.”

The Transformation

The program has quickly become a cornerstone of student life at GCS. Students are gaining far more than business skills—they are developing grit, ownership, creativity, and the confidence to take initiative. Guided by Seed Tree’s framework and Jason Pasquariello’s daily leadership, the Foundations class has inspired a new culture of collaboration and purpose-driven innovation on campus.

Gilbert Christian’s entrepreneurship program is not only a model of academic engagement—it’s a mission-aligned initiative shaping the next generation of Christian leaders and changemakers.