He uses what

students nicknamed "DeCourcy Dollars" to open discussions of

inflation, monetary policy and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Students

who complete homework and class work exchange DeCourcy Dollars for extra

credit, hall passes and small prizes.

One of the

projects in DeCourcy's class is a PowerPoint presentation on careers.

Students pick a career and research required education, necessary qualifications,

salary and future demand. In another lesson, students choose salaries

from a hat and come up with a monthly budget providing for taxes, housing,

transportation and other expenses.

Last year,

88 percent of his AP macroeconomics students had high scores on the AP

exam, topping the national average by 20 percent. Under his direction,

Sandy Creek students have won the regional Stock Market Game seven times

in the last eight years.

"Economics

is often referred to as the 'dismal science,'" said Anthony Pattiz,

who chairs the social studies department at Sandy Creek. "Nothing

could be further from the truth when it is brought to life by Mark DeCourcy.

Time and again, his innovative instructional practices have energized

his students."