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Waunakee board hears students describe growth of Youth Apprenticeship program
Summary
Board members heard students and program staff describe a rapidly growing Youth Apprenticeship program that places high school students in paid, credit-bearing work in fields from health care to manufacturing; board members presented certificates and encouraged continued support.
The Waunakee Community School District on Monday heard students and staff describe a rapid expansion of the district’s Youth Apprenticeship program and the real-world experience it provides to participants.
Michelle McGlynn, Career and Technical Education coordinator at Waunakee High School, told the board the program — sponsored by the state of Wisconsin — places students into “high wage, high skill, and high demand career choices” and that district participation has grown from about 20–30 students pre-COVID to 72 this year and a projected 85 next year. “We are really proud that this year, Waunakee has the most youth apprentices in all of the Dane County districts,” McGlynn said.
Students at the meeting described hands-on responsibilities and classroom-to-work transitions. “The experience that I’ve gotten from it is way more than I could ever get out of a classroom experience,” student Logan Burns said, describing his work as a phlebotomist and upcoming placement in an emergency department at UW Hospital. Other students described internships in IT, veterinary care, behavioral health, manufacturing and cosmetology; several said the program helped them develop workplace communication, time management and technical skills.
Board members and district staff noted the program’s scale and scheduling demands: McGlynn said apprentices are required to complete 450 work hours a year and many students exceed that. “They have to balance that work. Many of them are working way above that,” McGlynn told the board, noting participants also take AP classes, play sports and have other family and community obligations.
The board presented certificates of appreciation to students who spoke and commended the high school staff for increasing pathways such as construction and health sciences. Superintendent Dr. Brown encouraged the board to continue support for the program and its staffing needs.
Board discussion briefly touched on program growth and the need to sustain employer partnerships and scheduling accommodations so students can both work and meet course requirements. McGlynn asked the board to continue support for the program’s expansion and to help maintain employer connections that allow students to complete required hours.
District staff and students asked families to consider the program and encouraged parents and students to contact the high school’s Career and Technical Education office for information about pathways, internships and how to apply.
