One of the ways that Granville County Public Schools is observing CTE Month in its district is by sharing information about internships that give students job experience while earning high school credit.
During the internship period, students gain experiences and skills that promote their learning and skill set related to a career or a career pathway, according to GCPS Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne.
Interns must complete 120 hours to earn the credit, but they gain so much more – from observing and participating in the daily operations of the business to having unique access to particular careers and performing specific job tasks related to the business.
The teacher, student and the business community jointly formulate the details of the internships, which can be paid or unpaid, Winborne noted.
Oxford Parks and Recreation has had interns in the past, and Director Tina Cheek said it’s been a positive experience.
“Our past interns have allowed us opportunities to train and teach new skills as well as share experiences within the department. Interns allow us the opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on things we do every day. Hosting an intern is definitely a win-win,” Cheek stated.
Students get to develop those “real-world” skills that employers find desirable: time management, perseverance, problem-solving and teamwork, just to name a few.
Sound good?
To be eligible for an internship opportunity, a student must be a CTE concentrator – which means having successfully completed a second-level CTE course in a career pathway. Students can obtain their own internship site or they can ask for assistance from their CTE teacher or from GCPS Career Development Coordinator Tamara Rodebaugh.
Business leaders who would like to join the internship program can contact Rodebaugh at rodebaughtw@gcs.k12.nc.us.