The next generation of teachers is what Humble ISD’s Student Internship Program is all about. The program is designed to give students real-world experience in a classroom setting, while helping their mentor teachers four days a week.

“They love it,” education teacher Rolanda Wilkins said of her current students. “They’re having fun. They have had a chance to teach small groups, so they work with one or two students in a small group. They observe their mentor teacher and watch them. They also chaperone students outside.”

The Kingwood Park juniors and seniors who are part of the program spend at least two class periods at elementary schools, like Elm Grove and Woodland Hills. 

Students from other high schools are also part of the program and intern at schools closer to their home campuses, like Willowcreek, Lakeshore and Park Lakes. These students spend a minimum two class periods a day there, with others spending almost all day with their mentor Teacher. 

“To be eligible, the student has to be a junior or senior,” Wilkins said. “They have to provide their own transportation. They have to have a grade of 80 or above in their classes. They would have needed to take Child Development, Human Growth and Development as classes to prepare them for their internship. Also, there is a teacher recommendation, so we look at teacher recommendations, and we also do interviews with the students.”

For the students involved, becoming eligible and getting an interview is a big deal. The highlight for them during work, however, is the bonds they form with the teachers and students.  “[I’ll never forget] the first time one of my students gave me a hug,” senior Ashleigh Wilson said. “I don’t know what I did, but they were like ‘Oh, it’s Ashleigh!’ And then they hugged me, and I wanted to cry happy tears.”