Harlem UD 122 highlights work‑based learning: staff report more than 115 internship interviews planned
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Summary
The Harlem UD 122 school board recognized students and community partners in career and technical education (CTE) and heard that staff have scheduled more than 115 internship interviews for next year, while board members urged expansion of the program.
Harlem UD 122 school board members recognized students and community partners involved in the district’s career and technical education (CTE) and work‑based learning programs and heard staff say they have scheduled more than 115 student internship interviews for the coming year.
District work‑based learning teachers and participating students described internships across trades, engineering, health care and culinary arts during a presentation to the board. "So he brought with us some of the students who have either already taken the work based learning course or they've already completed their internships, and some students that are currently on‑site," a work‑based learning teacher told the board, summarizing the group’s range of experiences.
The presentation included students who described individual internship placements. Julia Modrosnick, a senior at Harlem High School, said she spent her first semester interning in engineering and was recognized by a recently held CNC career education award. "I learned absolutely everything I could have possibly wanted," Modrosnick said. Malachi Center, a senior who entered the program in his junior year, said he trained in roofing, waterproofing and sheet metal with local sponsors and praised the employers who took a chance on him: "I'm just grateful for that experience and opportunity. And they're great people, great companies."
Lillian Smith, a senior working as a district‑level instructional technician intern, told the board the program let her create and teach STEM activities in elementary classrooms: "I can actually go into these elementary schools and I teach STEM based learning activities. I completely create them, teach them, and lead the littles." Milo Bloomingdale, a senior who interned in a restaurant kitchen, said the experience will help applications to culinary programs.
Teachers and administrators emphasized employer partnerships. School staff asked the board to publicize student success stories so more students and local businesses learn about the pathways available. Staff said they are currently interviewing more than 115 students who are interested in internships for the next school year and reported growth in employer participation compared with the prior year.
Board members repeatedly praised the program’s role in giving students hands‑on experience and in offering non‑college career pathways. Board members also discussed ways to document and display student internships and employer partners in district spaces so the community can see program outcomes.
Background details provided during the meeting showed a mix of pathways represented: engineering placements with a local engineering company, roofing and sheet‑metal apprenticeships with union locals and private firms, pharmacy internships tied to a university partner, culinary internships at local restaurants, and district internships placing students in elementary classrooms.
The board did not take formal action on program staffing or funding during the presentation; members asked staff to continue building employer relationships and to bring back materials for broader public recognition.
The board meeting also included separate agenda items not related to the CTE presentation, such as routine bills and several formal votes recorded later in the session.
