Alliance for Education outlines micro‑internships, pre‑apprenticeships and industry partnerships serving thousands of Inland Empire students

San Bernardino County’s Alliance for Education told the Board of Education in August 2025 that its work to connect K‑12 students with employers and postsecondary partners served thousands of students last year and included competitions, micro‑internships, teacher trainings and registered pre‑apprenticeship programs.

Dr. Carol Tsushima, who leads the workforce unit that houses the Alliance, said the 2024–25 year reached more than 17,000 students and involved roughly 126 industry and community partners. “All these pictures are our students,” she said, summarizing a slideshow of on‑site employer engagements, STEM events and teacher professional development.

Speakers reviewed program highlights: industry‑driven student competitions (culinary “Chopped”‑style contests, welding and bridge‑building), micro‑internships with employers (examples include a regional medical school and sheriff’s aviation), and virtual STEM events that have reached several thousand students. The Alliance said it uses a mix of private grants and federal/state CTE funding to support its work and highlighted partners that include local colleges, the county fire department, health plans and unions.

The county office also described a registered pre‑apprenticeship strategy. Workforce staff said the county office is one of the few county offices acting as a registered sponsor to help CTE programs qualify as pre‑apprenticeships; existing program areas named included automotive, building trades, culinary, mechatronics, early childhood education and masonry. Staff said those efforts are coordinated across the Inland Empire and not limited by district boundaries.

Students and teachers who spoke or were shown in presentation video said the experiences helped them learn workplace skills and consider career options; a student in a robotics program rated the experience “10.” Workforce leaders said the Alliance’s programming is designed to give teachers materials and training, let students try condensed industry tasks and give employers a predictable way to recruit future workers.

The board did not take formal action on the presentations. Trustees asked for continuing updates and for staff to ensure the board secretary receives notice of events so board members can attend. The Alliance said materials and links to programs are available on the county office website and that districts and employers can request customized engagements.