Real-world experience…
Hands-on learning…
Certifications…
Scholarships…
Networking abilities…
Improved résumés…
Those were just some of the benefits of internships offered by Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) outlined during the December 12th meeting of the Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents (LEAP).
Jose Salazar, deputy chief of EMS and training for Loudoun County Fire, Rescue and Emergency
Management, said students as young as 16 can begin training to be a firefighter or emergency medical technician. While they can’t fight fires or be a lead technician until they turn 18, Salazer said students can learn the discipline of the emergency services and get a feel for the job by observing the senior members of their organization. “They have an opportunity of getting a taste of reality without the burden of responsibility.”
Salazar began his emergency career as a teenager with the idea of becoming a doctor. He discovered that his passion was in the emergency services and has now been a part of that world for nearly 30 years.
Firefighting and EMT certifications are now available through classes at Monroe Technology Center.
Salazar said these classes are conducted at the Fire and Rescue Training Center in Leesburg. High school juniors and seniors earn college credits through Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) as well as working with professionals-in-training through this program, said Salazar.
If students don’t want to go through Monroe, Salazar said most Loudoun fire and rescue companies accept junior members. Training and certifications for the junior members are done at night with a fivemonth commitment required. This training is free and there is no mandatory service requirement at its conclusion.
Lorna Gardner, Monroe’s instructor for thecomputer systems technology (CST)/information technology essentials (ITE) program, listed numerous benefits her programs provide. In addition to providing 15 credits at NOVA, these programs provide internships at 20 technology firms in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. These internships expose students to the corporate culture and lead to real-world jobs. (Time-
Warner has hired 13 of Gardner’s students. Some of the companies that have hired Monroe graduates offer $3,000-$8,000 per year in tuition reimbursement to further their employee’s education.)
“If anything, internships teach you what you don’t want to do,” said Gardner. She noted that many students who started an internship with a specific career path in mind often change direction entirely after experiencing a profession firsthand.
Beyond that, Gardner said internships give students a chance to look beyond traditional education to see how their knowledge can be applied in the real world. Students learn the expectations of supervisors, how to dress for business, build résumés and network, all of which will serve them well when they start their career.

Monroe’s Salle Sappington, outlined the Claude Moore Scholars program, which provides medical training and certification. (Note: Applying to this program is a competitive process. Math and science scores and attendance are key factors in selecting successful applicants.)
Located at Loudoun Inova’s Cornwall Campus, the Claude Moore Scholars program begins with a general health and medical science class. This introduces students to medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, ethical and legal responsibilities, human growth and development and clinical observation field trips. Because the program is located on the campus of a working hospital, students are able to do observations in the emergency department, physical therapy areas, the free clinic, physician offices, the dialysis clinic and an assisted-living facility.
After the health and medical science class, students can specialize in one of four programs: radiology technology, medical laboratory technology, pharmacy technology or licensed practical nursing.
Sappington said the courses focus on workforce readiness. Starting in January 2015, these professions will require an associate’s degree. Since college credit is part of the Claude Moore program, Sappington said her students will have an advantage coming out of high school over those who wait to begin their education in these fields.
In addition, students in the pharmacy technology program can sit for state and national certification exams.
Betsy Sumner, a family and consumer science teacher at Freedom High School and two of her students,Annabella Morana and Tim Jensen, spoke about the benefits of the Teacher Cadet program.
Sumner herself is a product of this program, having participated in it at Potomac Falls High School as a student.
Beyond classroom projects and instruction in theory, the Teacher Cadet program gives its students 40 hours of field experience with master teachers during the second semester of the school year. In addition, teacher cadets earn college credit through Shenandoah University.
“Being in front of a classroom is huge,” said Jensen. “You’re in front of a classroom of 25 little kids who are crazy. You find out if this is what you want to do.” (Jensen, who is from a long line of teachers, wants to become an elementary school teacher.)
Jensen noted he has friends in their fourth year of college who are just now having their first experience with student teaching.
Morana, who wants to be a history teacher on the secondary level, said she is learning a great deal about teaching students with learning disabilities and barriers. These barriers could be physical or social or economic.
Sumner said students incorporate what they have done and learned into comprehensive portfolios. She took her portfolio from Potomac Falls to her first job interview.
“It’s really putting these students a step ahead of the average applicant.”
The next LEAP meeting will be January 9th. The topic will be the Proposed FY14 LCPS Budget.