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Program Internships

The program has three required intensive internships, a school district-based internship, a business internship and an international internship.

Based on the topic of interest of the particular candidate, internships will be arranged by the Program Coordinator to assist in collecting research data/evidence; to develop leadership knowledge, skills and dispositions; and to study comparative models across the region, nation and world.

We understand that our candidates are very busy professionals. The internships will be arranged with the input and permission of the superintendent of the candidate’s respective school district or another appropriate supervisor. In some cases, the internships may require the candidate to take formal annual leave in order to accomplish the internships.

School district-based internship

Candidates will be assigned to local superintendents, presumably in their current school districts, for two-week intensive internships (or equivalent) to assist in completing specific projects or work products. Candidates will assist in presenting the results of the products to the Board of Education or other appropriate audience. Candidates will:

1. Compare and contrast the leadership styles, philosophical perspectives, organizational systems, administrative processes and culture of a rural or urban school district and analyze how these factors affect education in that system
2. Observe and critically analyze educational practices, change strategies, assessment tools and management approaches in the internship placement setting
3. Study educational innovation and data-driven decision-making from a system-perspective
4. Shadow leaders through typical work-day assignments
5. Perform leadership roles in the area of the candidates’ expertise connected to their research interests.
6. Reflect upon experiences with fellow interns.

See the program of study guide for likely timing of the internship.

Business internship

Candidates will be assigned to work for a local, regional, state or national business, non-profit or other agency for intensive internships. The business internship is designed to provide first-hand experience in applying best business practices to the educational domain, including: 1) effective managerial and leadership principles, 2) strategic human resource management and 3) innovative training and employee/customer education models. Candidates will:

1. Experience and study the leadership styles, organizational systems, administrative processes and culture of a business setting and analyze how these factors affect education and training in that business
2. Study strategic resource management including recruitment, retention and support
3. Explore innovative training and employee/customer education models.
4. Shadow leaders through typical work-day assignments and perform authentic responsibilities.
5. Perform leadership roles in the area of the candidates’ expertise connected to their research interests.
6. Compare change strategies, assessment tools and management approaches
7. Reflect upon experiences with fellow interns.
   

See the program of study guide for likely timing of the internship.

International internship

The international internship is designed to provide first-hand international experiences in observing and analyzing diverse cultures, practices and philosophies and how they impact educational decisions in international educational settings. Candidates will:

1. Experience the leadership styles, organizational systems, administrative processes and culture of an international site and analyze how these factors affect education in that country
2. Identify philosophical teaching and learning perspectives of international educators and describe how these philosophies impact classroom, district, and national educational decisions
3. Identify philosophical perspectives from which international educators identify leadership and how these philosophies are carried out in the school, district and national settings
4. Compare and contrast leadership styles, organizational systems, administrative processes and philosophical perspectives of American education to those at an international site
5. Perform leadership roles in the area of the students’ expertise connected to their research interests.
6. Observe and critically analyze educational practices in an international educational setting

See the program of study guide for likely timing of the internship.