The Valley View School District Board of Education recognized student interns and celebrated a national ACT-SO winner at its Aug. 18 meeting.

Dorelata Peyton, the district’s director of college and career readiness, told trustees the Will County Center for Economic Development program placed 13 Valley View students in paid summer internships tied to classroom learning and the district’s “portrait of a learner” competencies. Peyton said six of the interns had already graduated and several others were in college or working. She quoted an example of an intern, Isaiah Reimer, who worked in a state senator’s office and participated in a leaflet drop that informed residents about a local bridge reconstruction project.

The board also recognized Bolingbrook High School senior Caleb Wallace, who won a national gold medal in the ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) filmmaking category for a short film titled I Must Confess. Wallace described the film as addressing emotional suppression in the Black community and encouraging people to seek help: “Everybody has their own unique problems and nobody should be ashamed of that,” he said.

Why this matters: The internships are part of the district’s expanding work-based learning initiative, which district staff framed as a way for students to test career interests and connect classroom learning to community employers. The ACT-SO recognition highlights student work in mental-health themes and brought national recognition to the district.

Details: Peyton said the internship pilot had strong employer feedback and invited local businesses interested in hosting interns to contact the district. Board members applauded the students; staff suggested the board schedule a future meeting to screen Wallace’s short film for the public.

Ending: The board congratulated the interns and the ACT-SO winner and urged the community to support expanded work-based learning placements.