Issaquah School District staff reported strong student interest in the Career Kick Start summer pilot and presented lessons and options for expanding career-connected experiences into the school year.
Julia Bamba, principal on special assignment for accelerating innovation, said the pilot accepted 46 students for two-week sessions after more than 160 applicants. The program offered industry panels, site tours, job-shadow days, resume feedback and professional headshots; Issaquah Schools Foundation and SanMar Corporation provided funding and hosting support.
Student and director comments praised the program’s structure and suggested using non-testing days (for students who do not test) to run worksite visits. Directors and staff discussed logistical challenges to scaling, including coordinating transportation, background checks for host sites, matching students with host interests, and avoiding over-burdening community volunteers. Staff proposed running additional pilots during the school year, offering focused panels during lunches or flex periods, and exploring junior and senior-level networking and resume supports.
Why this matters: Career-connected learning can help students clarify next steps after high school, expand access to internships and careers and create community partnerships; scaling such programs requires administrative capacity and community coordination.
What happened next: Staff will consider pilot options (in-school days, small pilots on PSAT/SBA days, junior-level resume and networking events) and collect feedback from students and partners to design a sustainable approach.
Ending: Board members encouraged continued experimentation and recommended stronger partnerships with CTE programs, student groups and community organizations to broaden access and reduce equity gaps in participation.