ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Hundreds of Allentown teens used their summer vacation to earn some money and gain job skills that will help them after they graduate.
This marks the second summer that the Allentown School District has offered a paid internship program to high school students, placing them in jobs within the district and at various locations around the city.
About 400 ASD students have interned since the program began last year, and as of mid-July, 240 students were working within the school district or with local businesses and organizations.
The program is offered year-round. Students can work up to 30 hours per week during the summer and 10 hours per week during term time. Students earn $15 per hour through their internship, some of which is paid by the partner organization and the other by ASD.
“We just wanted to make money, and then we started saying, 'It would be great if you could work for our school.'”
Theodore Solomon, ASD intern and Building 21 senior
Deb Accurso, former ASD director of college and career readiness, said the goal of the internship program is to “facilitate a continuing career experience that helps students effectively plan for post-secondary opportunities.”
Accurso spoke to LehighValleyNews.com about the internship program in July before resigning this month: Superintendent Carol Burks said his resignation will not affect the future of the district's internship program.
The program was created after teens on Burks' student advisory committee said they wanted a way to make money.
“We started out just wanting to make some money, and then we started saying, 'It would be great if you could work for our school,'” said Theodore Solomon, a senior in Building 21. “We thought it would be a great opportunity.”
Theodore, 17, had been an intern for about a year, working in the communications department of ASD's central administration.
Communications interns learned how to take photos at ASD events and use social media strategies to post the photos online to promote the district, and they also learned about event planning by shadowing ASD staff who organize events such as the annual meeting that kicks off the back-to-school year for educators each August.
Kimberly Elias, a senior in Building 21, is also interning in the communications department. Kimberly, 17, says the internship has improved her public speaking and interpersonal skills, and she says she is more interested in a career in communications.
Prior to her internship, Kimberly had only ever worked in the fast food industry, and she says ASD's internship program gave her the experience of a change of pace.
“It's definitely a lot more fun, a lot less stressful and a lot more engaging,” she said.
“It's definitely a lot more fun, a lot less stressful and a lot more engaging.”
Kimberly Elias, ASD communications intern and fourth-year Building 21 student
Kayla Lopez, a junior at Allen High School, interned at Roosevelt Elementary School this summer, where she worked with students in the school's summer program in the mornings and helped with administrative tasks in the afternoons.
Kayla, 17, said she enjoys working with younger students and her internship experience has inspired her to pursue a career working with children in the future.
“It’s an opportunity to think about what you want to do in life. [the internship] “It really gives you the drive and motivation to actually do something, especially during the summer,” she said.
Kayla said she is also enjoying getting to know the other high school interns at Roosevelt.
“I think it's refreshing to meet new people and get to know what they're like and what their personalities are like, rather than just sticking to your usual group of friends,” she said.
Some students also complete internships at facilities around the city, such as the Da Vinci Science Center.
Abdiel Paredes, a senior at Diraff High School, was one of several teens assigned to the science center this summer, helping out with the museum's summer camp for young children.
“Overall, it's a new experience. I've never worked at a science center before,” said Abdiel, 17. “I get to see the kids interacting and having fun.”
“Overall, it's a new experience. I've never worked at a science center before. I get to see the kids interacting and having fun.”
Abdiel Paredes, ASD/Da Vinci Science Center intern and senior at Diraff High School
The interns assisted with Da Vinci outreach programs in local schools and also had the opportunity to tour different departments of the museum, including the animal care team, who look after the animals on display.
Sarah Alexander, Da Vinci's STEAM Career Pathways coordinator, said they try to expose interns to as many museum departments as possible, giving them experience that will hone the skills they need for future employment.
“We're developing their well-rounded capabilities and helping them understand skills like teamwork, communication and collaboration. Of course, they'll use these skills in their internships, but they'll use these skills wherever they go,” she said.