Lebanon High says work-based learning program grew to 94 students with dozens of local partners

Lebanon High School’s work-based learning program enrolled 94 students this year, with about 84 partner placements and multiple sites across the region, Kelly Dennis, career engagement coordinator at Lebanon High School, said on the Learn in Lebanon podcast.

Dennis said the program has expanded from 56 students last school year to 94 this year. “We currently have 94 students. That includes 84 partners. Some of our partners have multiple interns for us,” she said.

The program places students in half-day internships so they can combine classroom time with on-the-job learning, Dennis said. She described placements across Boone County and nearby communities, including new local hosts such as the Lebanon Field House and businesses such as Bill Estes Chevrolet, and said students also intern with the Army National Guard and at sites in Zionsville, Brownsburg, Indianapolis, Thorntown and Frankfort.

Lauren Ergotay, City of Lebanon intern and host of the podcast, described her own internship at the City of Lebanon under Joseph LePage and said the practical experience shaped her interests. “I’ve had so much fun at my internship this year. I’m at the city of Lebanon with Mr. Joe LePage, and it’s been a blast,” Ergotay said.

Dennis said internships produce both career exposure and general workplace skills—punctuality, communication and engagement—that are useful regardless of a student’s ultimate path. She gave examples of internships leading directly to employment: one student placed at Bill Estes Chevrolet began onboarding as a car salesman after turning 18.

The coordinator said the program draws partners both inside Lebanon and in surrounding communities and that the district has worked to expand its partner list over time. “Overall in our entire program, we’ve had over a hundred partners,” Dennis said, while noting that about 85 are active in the current cycle and some partners host multiple interns.

Looking ahead, Dennis said growth is expected as state changes will require more juniors to participate in work-based learning. “There are things going on within the state where juniors are gonna actually end up having to go out in the next few years,” she said, and the district projects enrolling more than 100 students next year—roughly a 15 to 20 student increase.

Dennis outlined how community members or businesses can volunteer as partners. “They can contact the school. We have a school website as well, where we have a career engagement area on our website. But if they can contact school, ask for my extension, or ask to speak to me, they’ll be forwarded to me. Also, email. I’m readily available on a regular basis,” she said.

The program coordinator said her role became full time in the spring of the previous school year after Mrs. Scott moved into an assistant principal role and the district shifted Dennis into the career engagement position; Dennis has 17 years of experience in education.

Program leaders said they aim to continue expanding placements and community partnerships so more students can gain workplace experience before graduation.

Prospective partners or interested students were directed to the Lebanon Community School Corporation website and to contact the school for direct referrals to Dennis.