About the Organization
Partners in Education connects community resources with schools and students to support academic success and career readiness. This summer, Partners in Education is seeking two interns to work in different areas:
- The “Precision Manufacturing Career Pathways for All” project is part of a new initiative in collaboration with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce. The program addresses barriers to sub-baccalaureate pathways in precision manufacturing by developing industry skills-aligned curricula and facilitating industry mentor engagement in Career Technical Education (CTE) classrooms.
- “Readers are Leaders Partnership” is a two-year pilot program to enhance literacy support in Santa Barbara Unified Elementary Schools through coordinated volunteer efforts.
Position: “Precision Manufacturing Career Pathways for All” Project Fellow
We are seeking a Fellow to support research and implementation of a CTE-hosted Industry Internship model. This position offers a unique opportunity to bridge academic research with practical applications while contributing to the development of sustainable career pathways for students. (Learn more about CTE: https://www.sbceo.org/programs/cte/overview)
Primary Responsibilities:
- Research & Development: Conduct research on best practices for industry-classroom integration and develop evidence-based recommendations
- Assessment Design: Create evaluation tools to measure effectiveness of CTE-hosted industry internships and student outcomes
- Program Documentation: Document implementation processes and develop a replicable model for future expansion
- Industry-Education Liaison: Support coordination between industry mentors, CTE teachers, and participating students
- Training Support: Assist in developing training materials for industry mentors engaging with CTE classrooms
- Data Collection & Analysis: Implement systems to track program metrics and analyze outcomes for continuous improvement
- Best Practices Guide & Site Visits: Contribute to developing qualification checklists and standards for CTE-hosted industry internships and conduct site visits using these checklists
Qualifications:
- Strong research background with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies
- Understanding of career technical education and workforce development principles
- Excellent communication skills for engaging with diverse stakeholders
- Ability to translate research findings into practical applications
- Experience with program evaluation preferred
Benefits:
- Apply doctoral research in a real-world educational setting with immediate impact
- Network with industry professionals and educational leaders
- Potential integration with dissertation research
- Gain practical experience in program development and implementation
- Contribute to innovative models for expanding career pathways
Position: “Readers are Leaders” Fellow
We are seeking a Fellow to support the coordination and implementation of our literacy volunteer program. This position offers a unique opportunity to apply research skills in an applied educational setting while contributing to meaningful community impact through improved literacy outcomes for elementary students.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Volunteer Management: Help recruit, screen, and coordinate a diverse cohort of 50+ volunteers including college students, retirees, school parents, and business professionals
- Training Development: Assist in creating and refining comprehensive literacy tutoring training modules based on volunteer feedback and teacher input
- Program Evaluation: Develop assessment tools and protocols to measure volunteer satisfaction, student progress, and program logistics
- Reporting & Analysis: Collect and analyze data to inform program improvements and document impact for stakeholders
- Volunteer Support: Facilitate monthly Zoom volunteer check-in meetings and provide case management support
- Stipend Administration: Assist with tracking and distributing volunteer stipends
- School Coordination: Liaise with school site contacts to ensure optimal volunteer placement and scheduling
Qualifications:
- Interest in literacy development and elementary education
- Experience with educational program development, implementation, or evaluation
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
- Research experience including data collection and analysis
- Background in volunteer coordination preferred but not required
Benefits:
- Apply research methodologies in a real-world educational setting
- Network with educational leaders across Santa Barbara Unified School District
- Gain experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation
- Contribute to meaningful community impact through literacy support
Both internships will take place over 200 hours in summer 2025. Applicants to Partners in Education internships will be considered for both internship positions.
