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Knox County Schools celebrates five Project Search interns hired after 4,675 internship hours
Summary
Knox County Schools and community partners celebrated five Project Search interns who completed 4,675 hours of work-based learning and are entering paid jobs with local employers, officials said. School leaders and partners highlighted the program's role in building workplace skills and community inclusion.
Knox County Schools hosted a graduation ceremony for five students who completed the district's Project Search internships and moved into paid positions with community employers.
"You are graduating with jobs," said Christy Christie, chair of the Knox County School Board, congratulating the interns and noting they completed a combined 4,675 hours of internships in Knox County Schools. "That's amazing."
Project Search, a national transition-to-work model that began in 1996, places students with disabilities in internships at community businesses to build workplace skills and confidence, said Miller Fouch, a Project Search instructor with Knox County Schools. "This program would not be able to happen without everybody being a part of that," Fouch said, thanking host departments, families and funders.
District leaders and school staff described how the internships operated and highlighted individual interns. "They work with purpose. They know why they're here and they work with conviction," said Dr. Brad Carr, executive director of special education, praising the students' reliability and positive attitude.
Principal Wendy Clayton of Sarah Green school gave brief, personal accounts of each intern's contribution: Judah Rogers for thoroughness and custodial tasks; Hayden Muny for customer-facing work and social skills; Yenni (last name given in transcript as Huarez) as the inaugural barista at the school's on-site coffee shop; Katie Quinter for classroom and early-childhood assistance; and Casiah Lian for representing the school and East Knoxville community.
Host departments thanked the interns for support in regular operations. "Our scores went through the roof when we hire you," said Dr. Garfield Adams of custodial operations. Brett Foster, director of nutrition, recognized the interns who assisted in the cafeteria, and Courtney Gusa of the Teacher Supply Depot said interns helped with shop-day preparations and moves.
Community partners were also acknowledged. Miller Fouch thanked the Lawson Family Foundation for a donation that helped open and run the school coffee shop known as the Green Bean. Julia Bradigan, assistant director of employment services with Certoma of Knoxville, presented a plaque and said the partnership is opening lasting employment opportunities for students.
Organizers announced the interns' job placements with local employers mentioned at the ceremony: Yenni at Jewelry TV (JTV), Hayden at Food City, Katie with the YMCA as a junior counselor, and Judah at Aubrey's (restaurant); organizers said these placements reflect the program's stated goal of moving students into inclusive, competitive work environments.
Miller Fouch closed by thanking the districtwide Project Search instructors and invited attendees to photos and refreshments. The ceremony underscored partners' roles in providing hands-on internships, district leaders said, and marked the students' next steps into paid work.
The program team noted the internships are part of Tennessee's state work-based learning framework and emphasized ongoing collaboration among Knox County Schools, host departments and community employers.
