Internship Program Overview

At STEAD, our goal is to prepare our students for a regenerative future through relevant, hands-on study and experience that prepares them for the real work needed in the world. In fidelity to this promise, every student completes an internship with industry, non-profit, or community partners–or right here on campus, learning through entrepreneurship and leadership.

 

STEAD offers:

  • Liability insurance coverage
  • Hourly wage to eligible students through Adams County Workforce Development (steps to determine eligibility are here)
  • School credit in addition to an hourly wage
  • Management of and support with the application process

 

Kinds of internships (and what counts for credit):

  • Campus leadership roles like the ambassador program, school club facilitation, manager roles, STEAD Marketplace, and CTE (Ag) Class Supervised Agricultural Experiences & Stead farm work
  • Opportunities with offsite industry partners–hours, duties, and requirements vary by opportunity, just like a job
  • Student leadership roles in the community–often not originally established through Stead–like political advocacy organizations, youth boards of non-profits, and church youth group leadership

Schedule:

  • STEAD has early release Wednesdays so most students can intern on Wednesdays, 1-4pm
  • Additional or alternate hours can be arranged
  • Summer internships are available and encouraged

Current Stead Internships and Partnerships

A partial partner list follows, including locations where students intern and/or engage in shadow days. All active listings (as well as a log of past listings) are here.

  • Temple Grandin Equine Center
  • Adams County Animal Shelter
  • Jacob Springs Farm
  • National Western Stock Show
  • Prestige Equestrian Center
  • Butterfly Pavilion
  • Platte Valley Health Clinic
  • Denver Zoo
  • Lincoln Hills Cares
  • Arbor Valley Nursery
  • Sunward Steel
  • The SAME Cafe
  • Colorado Basement Builders
  • Apex Denver
  • Colorado Department of Agriculture
  • USDA
  • Local elementary schools

This list does not include organizations and businesses with which students are engaged individually, which include local veterinary offices and rec centers, police explorer programs, churches, and the like.

How to Get an Internship

There are a number of ways to get an internship… or internship credit for things you’re already doing:

1. Student-Initiated: Students sign up for a meeting with Director of Partnerships and Work-Based Learning Rachel Balkcom here, express their career interests, and Rachel collaborates with them to identify businesses, organizations, and community members who can offer shadowing opportunities and internships.

2. Existing Stead partnerships: We have existing partnerships with various organizations and businesses with which Rachel facilitates the application process. Open internships are on the website and announced in the Newsletter, as well as in Jupiter when additional response is needed.

3. Workforce Development Center: The Adams County Workforce Development Center (which is the source from which we pay students) are connected with 190+ paid internships and training opportunities. Students sign up on their website (connectingcolorado.com) and then follow the steps to get paid, as well as to be matched with a case worker to match students with opportunities.

4. Student Leadership: Student leadership forms a cornerstone of STEAD’s model, and we are continuously broadening avenues for students to assume significant leadership roles, both within and beyond the campus. These roles, closely mirroring responsibilities in the adult world, count as internships. Students complete a Volunteer and Work-Based Learning Hours Log to document their participation.

5. FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE): Within our FFA involvement, every student enrolled in a CTE class undertakes a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). If these SAEs are conscientiously and comprehensively completed, the majority of them qualify as internships. Students should speak with their CTE (agriculture class) guides to track their participation in the FFA system AET.

6. Existing Community Participation: Many students already hold leadership roles in the community–on youth advisory councils, in church groups, at museums or community gardens. Often these experiences can count for internship credit. Students should chat with Rachel here about their experience to determine eligibility, and then complete and submit the Volunteer and Work-Based Learning Hours Log.

Internship Credits/Hours

 

As a graduation requirement, students complete 80 hours of internship, SAE, and/or student leadership experience. Common Stead experiences that count for the entire requirement include the Stead summer internship program, working both weeks of the stock show, serving as an ambassador for at least one year, co-facilitating the Stead Marketplace, serving as a student Manager, and more.

More important than the requirement is our hope that students use the remarkable resources provided to them to explore careers they are interested in, thereby informing their future choices. Many students complete an internship every year of high school and graduate with far more hours than the requirement… and tons of first hand experience to inform their futures.

Important Documents

Seeking Partnerships!

Our parents are our strongest advocates! Do you know of a potential site for student internships? Is YOUR organization a potential site for student internships? Please read and pass along our Flyer for Potential Industry Sites.

 

Questions?

Please contact Director of Partnerships and Work-Based Learning Rachel Balkcom at RBalkcom@thesteadschool.org.

The STEAD School is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, creed, color, age over 40, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other status or class protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Principal is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.