Raisin' the Bar on Ethical Insect Removal
At Carrollwood Day School, we nurture entrepreneurship at every grade level. For fifth graders Asher and Austin, that spirit sparked during recess, turning the simple joy of lizard catching into “The Insect Exterminators,” their own ethical insect removal business that’s helping the whole school community.
At Carrollwood Day School, encouraging innovative thinking starts early. We foster entrepreneurship at every grade level, and for fifth graders Asher and Austin, an entrepreneurial spark has already taken off. The two classmates recently launched their own ethical insect removal company, “The Insect Exterminators,” offering a unique approach to campus pest control with compassion at its core. And their teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez, is supporting them all along the way.
"I can truly tell you that entrepreneurship is everywhere, and that's highlighted more effectively today than ever before. It's amazing to see how they've helped our CDS community, and I'm really proud of them," she shares.
The idea first struck during recess one afternoon. Asher and Austin were busy doing what they love, catching lizards around the playground, when inspiration hit. What began as a fun pastime quickly turned into a display of their entrepreneurial mindset, as the two started brainstorming how they could turn their lizard-catching skills into something that helped others. By the end of recess, “The Insect Exterminators” was born, ready to serve their school community one critter at a time.
With flyers hung around campus to spread the word about their new venture, when someone discovers an unexpected guest, they know just who to call. Whether it’s a spider in the hallway or a lizard in an office, one call to Mrs. Rodriguez sets their business in motion. Armed with gentle hands and big hearts, Asher and Austin don’t squish or spray; they carefully capture and rehome each visitor to a safe spot outdoors.
They both laugh as they remember their first couple of calls. One was real, but the other, “just a raisin.”
Their clients are already singing their praises:
“I had to make my own call today for The Insect Exterminators! I had a live lizard in my office. They got him! I give them FIVE stars!”
“They came to the rescue and removed a millipede from the administrative offices. Austin and Asher handled it like pros.”
What began as a simple idea has quickly grown into a beloved service on campus, proof that with a little empathy and an entrepreneurial spirit, even the smallest problem can spark a big idea. Their very first call may have been just a raisin, but they’ve received many calls since, with real critters to rescue.
How have you embraced entrepreneurship this school year? Share your experience with the MARCOM Department for a chance to be featured on the Portrait of a Patriot Blog.