Henry High students to Intern at Loring Community School this summer
Henry High has become a center for students who are interested in exploring and pursuing a career in education with its Education Pathways Program. One of its special attributes will be an opportunity at a nearby elementary school this summer for 12 students from 10th, 11th, and 12th grades who have signed up to be interns in the Minneapolis Public Schools Summer Scholars Program. Each will complete their internship with one of the teachers at Loring Elementary School in a collaboration of that school, the city’s Step-Up Program, and Henry’s Education Pathway Program.
When Henry student Khloe Davis was asked if she would be interested in a paid internship at Loring, she replied, “I’d do it for free!” Khloe was one of the reading buddies with 3rd graders at Lucy Laney who successfully engaged distance learners in reading this past year. She will be one of the interns attending training, supporting classroom teachers at Camden’s Loring School, Mondays through Thursdays, and participating in future educator professional development on Fridays. Each will get paid for approximately 160 hours at $15 an hour, while learning more about education vocations, enriching the lives of youth of their community, and assisting teachers in a neighborhood school. The two teaching coaches to oversee the summer internship will be Sheila Webb, Loring Social Worker, and Katrinka Zackery, Henry Restorative Advocate. Henry is exploring the possibility of extending internships at neighboring schools during the school year for after-school learning programs.
Education Pathways Program at Henry High
Henry High, under the leadership of Principal Yusuf Abdullah, is striving to become an education hub. Possible career pathways include the following: teaching, social worker, school counselor, administrator, community health worker, psychologist, restorative justice aide and early childhood educator. Research substantiates the need for more teachers of color in education. This includes Henry High which has 92 percent students of color and a staff of which are 33 percent of color. A goal of the Education Pathways Program at Henry is to establish more partnerships with its neighboring institutions such as Olson Middle School, Hmong International Academy, Loring Community School, Jenny Lind Elementary School, Cityview Community School and Lucy Laney Elementary School. The Twin Cities organization Black Men Teach, created to facilitate educational opportunities for future Black male teachers, is one organization that has agreed to a partnership with Henry’s Education Pathway Program.
There are many ways to be an educator. An Education Pathways Program has been established at Henry wherein courses provide students opportunities to receive college credit from Minneapolis College (MCTC) while still a student at Henry. The education courses will transfer to many Minnesota colleges and universities. Our goal is that some students will continue on to become teachers and return to the Henry community to teach. The program is currently serving 11th and 12th graders with plans to expand to include 10th graders. Additionally, staff are working on building a program that supports students as they are continuing their educational pathways.
Minneapolis College’s (MCTC) Education Program, the only two-year pre-professional teacher program in Minneapolis, prepares one to transform society through innovative teaching methods. Experienced instructors help students research and develop culturally relevant teaching methods for diverse school environments, and prepare them to see urban schools as places of possibility for a more equitable and just society. The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Education prepares an individual to work as an educational support professional. Students may choose to continue their pathway in education by then enrolling in a four-year college program.
Education Pathways Courses at Henry High currently include the following: EDU 1500: Introduction to Education and Reflective Practice – 3 credits ($618); EDU 2350: Multicultural Approaches to Education – 3 credits ($618); EDU 1400 Technology for Educators – 2 credits ($412); and EDU 2250 Introduction to Special Education – 3 credits ($618). Total Paid by Minneapolis Public Schools – 11 credits ($2246). These courses are classified as concurrent enrollment courses and are held at Henry.
Principle Leaders for the Education Pathway Program at Henry High are: Tameika Williams, Henry High alumnus and teacher, Education Pathway Program Coordinator; Yusuf Abdullah, Henry High School Principal, Education Pathway Program Administrator; and Crystal Polski, Minneapolis Public School District support person.
If you have any questions or are interested in getting involved in this program contact Sandy Ness, (teacher, coach and mentor) at sandra.ness@mpls.k12.mn.us or text/call 612-208-6435.