United Way partnership provides career experiences for students

Thanks to a grant from The Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) totaling $25,000, a pilot group of 15 Burnsville High School students were able to participate and earn money in a four-week Summer Internship and Sustainability program.

This partnership with GTCUW provides students with relevant work exposure and experiences, a core tenet of the District 191 Pathways model at the high school level.

Many of the students participating in the program this past summer were initially enrolled in last spring’s Pathways Internship class at Burnsville High School. Unfortunately, these students were not able to participate due to the closure of schools due to COVID-19.

The students planned to work during the summer to help support their families, and this program offered a safe alternative to face-to-face employment. Students had the opportunity to earn up to $1000 over a four week period.

After identifying their pathway interest, students interviewed employees in that career field, developed a plan of action to accomplish their goals, published a video on the importance of workplace skill development and created a professional resume.

During the summer, students completed online modules that helped them better understand workplace competencies, like attitude, appearance, dependability, integrity and persistence. Mentor teachers supported the students throughout the program, and at the end of the summer, students earned a certificate of completion that is included in their portfolio.

Funds are available to support up to 200 additional students to participate in the online workplace skill development program.

Since June 2020, District 191 has received nearly $112,000 in grant funding from our business and community partnerships, with additional funding in progress.