The philosophy of the District Internship Program is incorporated in its mission and vision statements:

 

District Internship Program Mission Statement
To appropriately identify students who have reached a point in their life and career planning where they are ready, willing, and able to explore a career in greater detail. 

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District Internship Program Vision Statements

Includes students who:

• seek outlets for pursuing their passions

• advocate appropriately on their own behalf

• participate in making decisions and successfully solving problems

• influence the community in a positive manner

• fully explore and consider the extent of their career development and college options

• become well-informed and remain open-minded

 

Includes employers who:

• think beyond traditional limitations

• serve as inspirational role-models for students

• grow professionally in order to best serve students

 

Includes parents who:

• support their child’s efforts to pursue his/her passions

• nurture their child’s academic, career, and social/emotional development

• advocate for career development

• encourage their child to be well-rounded

 

Includes a coordinator who:

• effectively uses resources to directly benefit students, whenever possible

• monitors feedback from students and parents regarding current practices and programming for students

• advertises existing and create worthwhile supplemental learning experiences for students

• investigates systemic changes in the district which could benefit students

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Includes a district that:

• recognizes that nontraditional measures of student success are often the best indicators of learning for students

• seeks to offer appropriate academic opportunities for students beyond the classroom

• is aware that the principle measure of student success is a comparison of a student’s performance against his/her own capabilities

 

Read more about the value of real-world work experiences here, in a blog written by

Dr. Lazaro Lopez, District 214 Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.