Job Title: Career Internship Teacher/Program Coordinator

Position Summary:

The individual in this full-time certified position will serve as the lead instructor, program coordinator, and mentorship liaison for the CUSD200 high school internship program. This staff member will provide CUSD200 with the opportunity to expand Work Based Learning (WBL) opportunities for students and directly teach a course aimed at preparing students for postsecondary opportunities.  This role is essential for the planning, coordination, and successful execution of work-based learning opportunities tailored to student career pathways, and will specifically support low-income students.  The three main work focus areas for this position are:

• Lead Teacher/Instructor: Serving as the lead teacher and instructor of the career internship course

• Program Coordination & Business Partner Outreach: Coordinating the program and conducting business partner outreach to support work-based learning sites for students

• Mentorship & Best Practice Liaison: Acting as a mentor and best-practice liaison for career education for all stakeholders, including students, staff, families, and the community

The position involves cultivating and managing professional relationships within the high school community, with business partners, and with other community organizations in order to develop and expand career pathway aligned work-based learning opportunities for students. While the program is part of the Career and Technical Education Department, this position reports directly to High School Administration and District Administration. The role liaisons with high school teachers, counselors, students, and parents. 

Qualifications and/or Experience:

• Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with endorsement in one area of Career & Technical Education

• Work Based Learning (WBL) endorsement (or willingness to obtain the WBL endorsement upon being hired)

• 3-5 years successful teaching experience, preferred

• Experience in the development of relationships between private industry and schools, preferred

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to unite diverse stakeholders to promote student success
   

Internship Program Coordinator Essential Responsibilities:

Instruction & Facilitation - Lead teacher & instructor of the career internship course. 

• Develop and facilitate instructional units and lessons around soft-skills and job-readiness skills that are aligned to CUSD 200’s Portrait of a Graduate and are needed in order to be successful in the workplace

• Match students with pre-vetted internship sites based on student interests, skills, and employer needs

• Facilitate initial introductions between student/parent and employer

• Conduct regular visits to student job sites

• Liaise between students and employers to address challenges that may arise

• Maintain regular check-ins and continue to support students for a period of one year after exiting high school
   

Outreach & Engagement - Program coordination & business partner outreach to support work-based sites for student learning

• Curate and manage business partnerships to support work-based learning for WNHS & WWSHS students

• Collaborate with students and employers to facilitate placement and progress within the program

• Facilitate growth of additional student work-based learning opportunities through outreach directly to employers, through D200 social media channels,  and through connecting with partners such as the Chamber of Commerce
   

Mentorship & Leadership - Mentorship & best practice liaison for career education for all stakeholders (students, staff, & families)

• Collaborate with counselors, department chairs, families, and students regarding internship/work-based learning experiences

• Organize events specific to the internship program

• Articulate the continuum of employee engagement and work-based learning experiences to all community stakeholders

• Disaggregate and collect data to improve student and program outcomes

• Assist students in transitioning to postsecondary education and/or full-time employment opportunities
   

Internship Program Coordinator Other Responsibilities:

• Keep abreast of new information, research trends, techniques, and ideas through professional materials, seminars, conferences, workshops, and network groups

• Identify and address barriers (transportation, health, personal issues) that can be addressed through direct support or by referrals to CUSD 200 counselors, social workers, or the Student Excellence Foundation

• Research, maintain, and share knowledge of high-growth, high-demand careers

• Meet regularly with district and building administrators to provide assistance, coordination, development, and assessment of the program

• Perform other job-related duties, as assigned