The West Hartford Public Schools Career & Technical Education Department is encouraging local businesses and organizations to participate in the ‘School-To-Careers’ (STC) program.

By Ronni Newton

The School-To-Careers (STC) program provides opportunities for West Hartford Public Schools students to learn about various occupations through “Career Exploration,” but a new component, “Work-Based Learning” (WBL), allows for hands-on exposure to a variety of careers that may include job shadowing or participating in a work-based learning internship program with a local business or organization.

“Work-based learning (WBL) opportunities allow students to apply their learning through practical experience that develops knowledge and skills necessary for success in careers and post-secondary education,” said Brian Cohen, supervisor of the Career & Technical Education Department. “WBL can occur at school or in the workplace, and experiences may include membership in CT Student Organizations, school enterprises, job shadows, internships, and clinical experiences. WBL opportunities help students make informed decisions about future education and training through connections with labor market professionals.”

A newly-launched program, that qualifies as a WBL Mastery Experience Independent Study, affords students the opportunity to earn school credit through an internship, job, or volunteer experience. “The program consists of active collaboration between student, internship host or supervisor, and the School-To-Careers Coordinator to create a seamless integration of school and real world learning,” Cohen said.

WBL is open to West Hartford Public Schools students ages 16 and up.

We-Ha.com is hosting the first-ever cohort of students interested in learning more about a career in journalism through the WBL internship program. Five students, three from Conard and two from Hall, were chosen to participate.

As official interns for We-Ha.com, the students will be reporting on events and other activities in their schools and the community, and will conduct interviews, write and submit articles for publication on the news site, take photographs, and share content via social media. The internship will last throughout the remainder of the spring semester. They will complete weekly participation logs and receive a monthly evaluation by We-Ha.com.

Additional businesses or organizations are encouraged to participate in the program.

If any members of the West Hartford community would like to offer their time to host a one-day job shadow or multi-week or month internship, they can get in touch with STC Coordinator Paulina Domika via email at [email protected].

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