District CTE director urges new work-based learning coordinator role to expand internships
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Summary
The district's Career and Technical Education director told the board there are 18 CTE programs and 132 students in internships now and recommended hiring a work-based learning coordinator to grow partnerships and manage compliance.
George Moreno, the Tolleson Union High School District director for Career and Technical Education (CTE), urged the governing board to add dedicated staff to expand internship and work-based learning placements for students across the district.
Why it matters: Moreno told the board that internships provide students with real-world experience, certifications and networking opportunities that support postsecondary paths into careers, technical schools, community college or university. He tied internships to student engagement and to the district's accountability metrics, noting that 120 hours of work-based learning can contribute to the CCRI portion of school letter grades.
What the board heard: Moreno said the district currently offers 18 CTE programs with 56 CTE teachers and 132 students participating in internships supported by seven external and seven internal partners. He described established partners (Banner, Honeywell, local contractors) and prospects (Amazon, semiconductor-related employers) and recounted logistical challenges when a longtime partner moved from a volunteer model to a formal internship (requiring MOUs, purchase orders and additional documentation).
Moreno recommended creating a work-based learning coordinator role to: - Recruit and manage industry partnerships; - Oversee compliance and legal documentation for internships (MOUs, EAAs); - Support teachers so they can focus on instruction and technical-skills assessment; and - Market CTE programs to increase student participation.
Moreno said the additional coordinator would align the district with neighboring districts that employ similar support staff; he presented comparative staffing numbers and enrollment across nearby districts to justify the proposal.
Board response: Members praised CTE work and asked operational questions. One board member asked which grade levels are eligible; Moreno said internships are offered to program completers, typically seniors, and that internships are structured as year-long experiences starting at the beginning of the school year. Board members also discussed industry partners of interest (carpenter's union apprenticeship, motorsports raceway and local semiconductor opportunities) and offered their support for expanding partnerships.
Ending: The board did not vote on a staffing change at the meeting but asked administration to return with more detailed staffing needs, costs and timelines. Moreno said the district will continue building partnerships while staff-level proposals are developed.
