NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — North Adams Public Schools' 21st Century Program and the Drury Workforce Development Program have collaborated to provide internship opportunities for 11 Drury High School students this summer. 

 

These paid internships are for Teaching Assistants working with 210 students in grades K-6 in the 21st Century Summer Program at Greylock Elementary School. The 11 student interns are assisting nine teachers to provide educational and social-emotional development programming.

 

These paid internships provide Drury students with the opportunity to develop the skills and competencies of working in an elementary education environment, and several student interns have expressed an interest in pursuing training and employment in the field of elementary education.

 

Additionally, all participating interns are developing the transferable skills that align with the Berkshire Portrait of a Graduate competencies which include: global citizenship, being a responsible, prepared individual who is a lifelong learner able to use critical thinking and effective communication skills.

 

Noella Carlow, who has served North Adams Public Schools as the 21 st Century Site Lead for many years, expressed her appreciation for the teamwork and commitment demonstrated by this group of interns. 

 

She noted that she has had the opportunity to witness many of these interns grow and develop from the young children who had previously attended the summer program as elementary students into the hardworking and responsible adolescents who are now giving back to the program and mentoring the younger students.

 

Annie Pecor, the Director of the 21st Century Program for the district, and Mike Boland, the Workforce Development Coordinator at Drury, hold a weekly seminar meeting with the Drury interns to review and reflect upon their experiences interning. This weekly seminar allows students to share their successes, challenges, and learning opportunities as colleagues and team members.