Fauquier Schools’ local government internships featured at VSBA

Fauquier County Public Schools is one of 52 school divisions from across the Commonwealth featured in the Virginia School Boards Association’s 20th annual Showcases for Success directory which highlights 93 successful K-12 programs in Virginia’s public schools.

Featured programs highlight successful initiatives related to workforce readiness and career and technical education. Fauquier County Public Schools’ entry is the new senior government internship.

Fauquier County has added a new elective for its high school seniors in history and social science that provides an opportunity to intern with local government agencies.

Students have been placed as interns with the Board of Supervisors, Economic Development, Community Development, Airport, Social Services, Historical Society, Environmental Services and Soil Conservation.

Seniors work with their agency department heads to develop a project that must have a positive impact on the community. Interns must present these projects to a community audience at the end of the school term. Interns also study leadership styles and agency operation.

Projects completed by interns include adding a historical exhibit to the “Old Jail” Museum and proposing an “Eco Fair” for businesses.

Several interns have been offered opportunities beyond their placements because of their success.

One participant said, “This was the best experience I could have ever asked for in high school.”

The full VSBA Showcases for Success directory is available at http://www.vsba.org/showcases.