Dr. Quinita Morrow: Building Businesses, Confidence, and Community in the Classroom — Episode 75

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On this episode of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall sit down with Dr. Quinita Morrow, the 2026 Newton County Schools Teacher of the Year and a marketing teacher at Alcovy High School.

But if you think this episode is simply about an award, think again.

Dr. Morrow represents something much bigger than a title. Her classroom is a place where entrepreneurship is born, where students learn real-world skills most adults wish they had learned earlier, and where relationships, not textbooks, are the foundation of meaningful education.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Morrow shares her journey from business professional to educator, how she brings real-world marketing into the classroom, and why relationships are the single most powerful tool a teacher can have.

And if you listen closely, you’ll hear something else too: a hopeful story about the future of Newton County’s students.

From the Business World to the Classroom

Dr. Morrow didn’t initially plan on becoming a teacher.

Her first dream was to pursue a career in business. But during high school, one teacher made a lasting impact on her life: her 11th-grade business teacher, Ms. Marshall.

That teacher inspired her to consider education, but the realities of teacher salaries pushed her toward the corporate world instead. After earning her degree in business, Dr. Morrow took a job in finance at Wells Fargo.

But it didn’t take long for her to realize something important.

“This is not for me.”

She attended a job fair in Newton County Schools—and was hired on the spot.

She originally planned to teach for just one year while figuring out her next steps.

Nineteen years later, she’s still teaching.

And changing lives.

A Defining Moment in 2016

Like many educators, Dr. Morrow’s journey hasn’t always been easy.

In 2016, after losing her father, she reached a point where she wasn’t sure what the next chapter of her life should look like. She had even signed a contract to move to China to teach.

Her visa had been approved. Everything was ready.

But a close friend challenged her to reflect on whether she was pursuing the opportunity or simply trying to run away from grief.

After prayer and reflection, Dr. Morrow sent an email declining the position.

That same night, she received an unexpected email from Luella High School offering her an interview—even though she had never applied.

She got the job.

For Dr. Morrow, that moment reaffirmed something she had already begun to realize:

She was exactly where she was meant to be.

The Power of Real-World Learning

Dr. Morrow teaches marketing—but her classroom is far from a traditional lecture environment.

Her students learn through real-world application.

Every year, her classes develop an entire business from the ground up. Students create business plans, develop branding, build websites, manufacture products, and ultimately sell those products through pop-up shops.

This year alone, some students generated hundreds—even thousands—of dollars in revenue through their projects.

But Dr. Morrow teaches them an even more important lesson.

Revenue isn’t the same thing as profit.

“If you made $1,000 but spent $900,” she tells them, “you didn’t make $1,000. You made $100.”

Those are lessons many adults learn the hard way. Her students are learning them in high school.

Entrepreneurship in Action

One of Dr. Morrow’s former students, Jordan Jackson, launched a clothing brand as part of the class’s final project.

His brand—BLXCK Clothing Co.—stood for Bold Leadership Through Creative Knowledge.

The project gained traction through a Shark Tank-style presentation where investors helped him fund equipment for the business.

Jordan continued selling his clothing line even after enrolling at North Carolina A&T.

And he’s not the only one.

Students in Dr. Morrow’s classes have launched baking businesses, apparel brands, and other entrepreneurial ventures.

The goal is simple:

Let students experiment with business ideas while the stakes are still low.

“I would rather you make the mistakes here,” she says, “than in the real world.”

The Speaker Series That Brings the World to Alcovy

Perhaps the most unique element of Dr. Morrow’s classroom is her speaker series.

Every week, she reaches out to entrepreneurs, professionals, and influencers to speak with her students.

The process is not easy.

Every Monday she sends around 150 emails.

On a good week, two people respond.

But over time, persistence built relationships—and now speakers often reach out to her asking when they can visit the class.

The result is remarkable exposure for students.

Her classroom has hosted 180 to 190 speakers each year, including

·      Small business owners

·      Media personalities

·      Entrepreneurs

·      Corporate professionals

·      Influencers

·      Athletes

Students get to hear firsthand what success looks like—and what it actually takes to get there.

And often, those speakers return year after year so students can watch their businesses evolve.

Why Relationships Matter

When Dr. Morrow reflects on her growth as a teacher, one theme stands above everything else: relationships.

Early in her career she focused primarily on teaching content.

Today, she focuses on developing people.

She meets students where they are, not where she expects them to be.

“Kids just want to be seen,” she says.

“They want to be heard. They want to feel valued.”

Once that relationship is built, something remarkable happens.

Students engage.

They work harder.

They believe in themselves.

And the learning follows.

Teaching Life Skills That Matter

Dr. Morrow’s marketing class teaches much more than advertising or branding.

Students learn practical life skills many adults never formally learn, including:

·      Public speaking

·      Professional presentation skills

·      Time management

·      Financial literacy

·      Mock interviews

·      Professional attire

·      Team collaboration

·      Business planning

·      Profit and loss analysis

She even teaches students how to write checks, balance accounts, and understand credit card statements.

Why?

Because those skills still matter in the real world.

“Everything isn’t Cash App,” she tells them.

The Role of Technology and AI

Dr. Morrow is also preparing students for the rapidly changing future of work.

Artificial intelligence is already transforming industries, including marketing.

But instead of discouraging its use, she teaches students how to use AI as a tool—not a crutch.

AI can generate ideas.

But human creativity still has to shape them.

That balance between technology and human thinking is exactly what employers are looking for today.

Branding: The Lesson That Starts on Day One

One of Dr. Morrow’s favorite lessons happens on the very first day of class.

She asks a student wearing a Nike hoodie to come to the front of the room.

Then she asks how much they paid for it.

Usually around $70.

She then asks how many students in the room like the hoodie.

When half the class raises their hands, she multiplies the value.

Suddenly Nike has made thousands of dollars worth of advertising inside that classroom.

Then she asks the question:

“How much did Nike pay you to wear it?”

The answer, of course, is nothing.

The students realize they are walking billboards.

And just like that, the first marketing lesson begins.

Students Are Their Own Brand

One of Dr. Morrow’s central messages is that every student is their own brand.

How they dress.

How they communicate.

How they present themselves.

All of it sends a message.

That message can open doors—or close them.

So, she teaches students to be intentional about how they represent themselves.

Because branding isn’t just something companies do.

It’s something people do every day.

The Pressure Facing Today’s Students

Despite the excitement and innovation happening in classrooms, Dr. Morrow is also deeply aware of the challenges facing today’s students.

One word summarizes it.

Pressure.

Academic expectations are high, but social media adds an entirely new layer of comparison and anxiety.

Students often measure their lives against carefully curated highlight reels online.

Dr. Morrow reminds them that social media rarely reflects reality.

The luxury cars, expensive bags, and glamorous lifestyles they see online often come with unseen realities.

Helping students separate reality from illusion is part of preparing them for adulthood.

Representing Newton County as Teacher of the Year

Being named Newton County Teacher of the Year carries a special responsibility.

Dr. Morrow now represents more than 1,500 educators across the district.

For her, the role is about advocacy.

It’s about speaking on behalf of teachers and students who are working hard every day to create opportunities for young people.

And it’s about reminding the community of something important.

Teachers are not the enemy.

They are partners.

They are mentors.

They are advocates for children.

And they are doing the best they can with the resources available.

A Message for the Community

When asked what message she would share with the community if she had a megaphone in the middle of the Town Square, Dr. Morrow didn’t hesitate.

“We are not the enemy.”

Teachers care deeply about the students they serve.

They want what every parent wants: for children to succeed.

Education works best when schools, families, businesses, churches, and the broader community all work together.

It truly takes a village.

Why This Conversation Matters

At its heart, this episode is about something bigger than marketing or even education.

It’s about investment.

Investment in young people.

Investment in relationships.

Investment in the future of Newton County.

If Dr. Morrow’s classroom is any indication, that future is bright.

Contact & Links

Follow Dr. Quinita Morrow’s Marketing Class:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dr.morrowmarketingclass/

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