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Colton Joint Unified spotlights summer internships: 27 students placed across 12 district work sites
Summary
At its Sept. 4 meeting, the Colton Joint Unified School District recognized 2025 summer interns, highlighting that 27 students worked at 12 district sites — double last year’s placements — and heard students describe hands‑on learning, workplace skills and renewed motivation.
Colton Joint Unified School District trustees on Sept. 4 recognized a summer internship program that placed 27 students at 12 district work sites, a program official said at the board meeting.
Paul Lucero, the district’s coordinator for career technical education and assessment, told the board that the 2025 internships doubled placements from the prior summer and are intended to give students workplace experience and help raise long‑term earnings prospects. "For the summer of 2025, we had 27 students at 12 work sites across the district, which doubled our numbers from last summer," Lucero said.
The program pairs students with supervisors in areas such as TK–6 classrooms, nutrition services, language support and student services. Lucero credited work‑based learning technicians Doris Hernandez and Avelia Triquez with recruitment and monitoring. He said division leaders treat interns as professionals to give them responsibilities that build job readiness.
Three interns addressed the board about their experiences. Stephanie Betta, who worked in a TK–6 placement, said helping kindergarten students who struggled with alphabet sounds taught her patience and the satisfaction of seeing measurable improvement. "It truly did make me happy," Betta said. Jamie Baron, who interned in nutrition services, thanked the board and staff for the opportunity. Maline Fakori, a senior who served in language support services, said the hands‑on, structured experience helped her see what a successful career could look like.
The board and audience applauded as district leaders called up student awardees across categories — mental and behavioral health, student services, TK–6, nutrition and preschool — and noted that while the internships were unpaid they offered experience and, in some cases, credit. Principal and district leaders worked to recognize students quickly because several were leaving for evening school events.
Why it matters: District officials said internships provide workplace skills that can improve students’ post‑graduation outcomes and help fill local workforce needs. Lucero cited Bureau of Labor Statistics context about earnings and emphasized the district’s role in creating pathways to higher earnings through career exposure.
Next steps: The district will continue to promote the program and expand placements; officials asked the board and community to support workplace hosts and supervisors who mentor interns.
