Future Ready Partners

Support students by mentoring, speaking in classrooms, or participating in events. Start by completing the volunteer process via Kennett Consolidated School District Volunteer by visiting the visitor section of our website.  

Provide a 60-hour internship experience in your organization. Students earn valuable learning and high school credit, and compensation is not required. This hands-on experience helps students build career skills and professional networks. Internships are customized based on student and partner need and can be a mix of in-person, virtual, and/or research.

Support a student completing a self- directed capstone project related to their interests, career goals, or a community issue. Mentors can plan for 2-3 short meetings (30 - 45 min) per month via in-person or virtual meetings. Mentors serve as thought partners, helping students plan, problem-solve, and bring their ideas to life.

Meet students, educators, and industry leaders to explore collaboration opportunities.

• Must be an approved volunteer in the Kennett Consolidated School District  
• Student internships require a minimum of 60 hours that can be a mix of in-person, virtual, and independent work.  
• Must have successfully been in business for at least one year.
• Must be able to meet interns in an office space or public setting.
• Must be able to provide an experiential, hands-on experience specific to the profession as the primary function of the internship.  The skills and/or knowledge should be transferable to future learning outcomes and employment settings.
• Communication between interns and business should be job related via the student’s district provided email address. 
• The business must allow the KCSD internship coordinator access to visit and observe the intern at any time.
• Business partners may choose to pay interns, but this is not required as students will be earning high school credit for their successful completion.  
• Internship work hours will be coordinated between the intern and employer based on the employer’s need and intern’s school/extracurricular schedule.
• Businesses must provide necessary training, materials, uniforms and resources to ensure the intern’s safety.   
• The school will arrange an Internship Orientation for the student, family, internship supervisor and internship coordinator to set clear expectations, review job description, and provide any additional information needed for a successful experience. 
• The business will be required to provide weekly written feedback that will support development of a mid and final performance review that will be used to award credit to the intern. 

Some of the many benefits of an internship program may include:

• The ability to build relationships with myriad business partners associated with the Kennett Future Ready Program
• The ability to establish a talent pipeline for your organization
• Access to future employees that are motivated and passionate about future employment opportunities within your organization
• A way to partner with the local community through supporting educational and workforce development goals
   

• Have you considered the purpose and function of internships in your organization?
• How does the internship program align with your organization’s mission, vision and core values?
• What resources are available to commit and support an internship program?
• Do I have a supervisor that is willing to work with an intern on this initiative?

Interns are typically high school seniors that have flexibility in their course schedule to work once their school day is complete. A specific schedule should be discussed and finalized based on availability and needs. Internship opportunities will generally follow the semester course schedule for students.  

There is no requirement to pay student interns.  If you choose to do so, the rate will be agreed upon by you and the intern. 

Yes! Students earn 0.5 credit for 60 internship hours and 1 credit for 120 hours. We also encourage employers to offer industry-recognized credentials (e.g., OSHA) where applicable. If a student earns a credential, please notify the KCSD coordinator to ensure it is recorded on their transcript.

An internship supervisor is someone who:

• Can serve as an experienced mentor on the subject matter who is able to provide ongoing feedback in a constructive manner
• Has adequate opportunity to supervise the intern
• Is accessible during the agreed upon internship hours
• Has an interest in supporting growth and development of our interns
• Has a positive attitude and can serve as a professional role model for the intern
• Is capable of coaching the intern on industry standards and best practices
• Is not a parent or guardian of the student intern.
• Is an approved volunteer of the Kennett Consolidated School District.
• Has completed the required training to successfully work with students

• Take time to get to know the intern’s goals and long-term plans
• Discuss and set clear expectations for workplace conduct
• Cultivate two-way communication
• Ensure the internship is a meaningful learning experience by providing clearly defined learning objectives. 
• Provide all necessary training and resources needed for success in the position
• Review and provide continuous feedback based on the internship assessment rubric
• Set clear goals based on the learning objectives and desired organizational outcomes
• Work with the KCSD coordinator to effectively evaluate the intern’s performance and ensure time requirements are met
• Be open to the need for flexibility over the duration of the internship.
• Provide students with opportunities to earn off-site hours. For example, are there opportunities for research, investigation, and exploration that they can summarize in writing or discuss when they return to the workplace?
• Help foster independence by creating a problem-solving process with defined steps for the intern to take prior to seeking direction from the supervisor
• Display patience at the beginning of the experience

• Meet monthly with the student innovator.  Meetings can be in-person or virtual.  Mentors should plan on 2-3 short check in meetings per month while the student is engaged in their capstone project.  The mentor will provide leadership and guidance to assist the student innovator bring their capstone project to completion.
• Relevant Professional Experience
  • At least 3-5 years of experience in their industry or field.
  • Demonstrated success in leadership, project management, or business development.
• Strong Communication Skills
  • Ability to communicate clearly, listen actively, and provide constructive feedback. 
  • Skilled in explaining complex ideas in a simple, relatable manner for students.
• Commitment to Mentorship
  • Willingness to dedicate time and energy to regular meetings, guidance, and support for the student. 
• Leadership and Management Experience
  • Ability to model effective leadership behaviors such as decision-making, collaboration, and problem-solving.
• Adaptability and Open-Mindedness
  • Willingness to embrace new ideas, challenges, and student perspectives.
  • Ability to mentor students from diverse backgrounds and tailor advice based on their unique goals and needs.
• Strong Ethical Standards
  • Demonstrated commitment to ethical business practices, integrity, and professionalism.
  • Ability to model responsible and ethical decision-making in both business and personal conduct.
• Passion for Youth Development
  • Enthusiasm for helping students develop essential life skills, confidence, and leadership qualities.
  • Experience working with or coaching young adults is a plus.
• Networking and Industry Connections
  • A well-established professional network that can provide students with exposure to opportunities, internships, or further career guidance.
  • Ability to offer valuable industry insights and trends relevant to the student’s interests.
• Problem-Solving Mindset
  • Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to guide students through challenges. 
  • Experience in real-world problem-solving in business settings.
• Flexibility and Patience
  • Willingness to accommodate the student’s schedule and learning pace.
  • Patience to allow the student to develop and learn through both successes and failures.

A Mentor is someone who:

• Can serve as an experienced mentor on the subject matter who is able to provide ongoing feedback in a constructive manner
• Is accessible during the agreed upon mentorship hours - can be virtually or onsite
• Has an interest in supporting growth and development of our student innovators
• Has a positive attitude and can serve as a professional role model for the student innovator
• Is capable of coaching the student innovator on industry standards and best practices
• Is not a parent or guardian of the student innovator
• Is an approved volunteer of the Kennett Consolidated School District.
• Has completed the required training modules to successfully work with students
• This set of qualifications ensures that mentors not only have the professional experience necessary to guide students but also possess the personal qualities needed to foster a positive, enriching mentoring relationship