Procedure 5642 - Administrative Intern Program

Philosophy of Internship Program 

The Richland School District has an obligation to provide opportunities for guidance and experience which will lead to qualified candidates securing credentials for administration in the public schools of Washington. This will be a cooperative effort of the Richland School District, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the institution of higher learning that is working with the candidate. 

Objectives of the Internship Program 

  1. To outline requirements, procedures, and channels by which the applicant may enter the program in Richland. 
  2. To provide activities and experiences which will assist in developing the leadership a candidate must give to the total educational program. 
  3. To add well trained people to a reservoir of potential candidates for administrative positions in the Richland School District and other school districts in the State of Washington. 

Types of Internship Programs 

1. Exploratory Experience 

An exploratory experience is designed to take from two hours up to a full day and gives the employee exposure to career opportunities and supervisory/managerial positions in the field of education. 

2. Informal Internship 

An informal internship is an introduction to administrative programs which is arranged with the principal and assistant superintendent and does not necessarily involve credits or certification. An informal internship involves any certificated Richland School District employee seeking experience in leadership training. Duration will be a minimum of one year or of a duration determined appropriate by the principal. 

(Note: A candidate may be granted more than one informal internship at different levels under different supervisors in order to gain a larger variety of experience.) 

3. Formal Internship 

A formal internship involves any certificated Richland School employee who has met district and college requirements to work in a leadership training program. A formal internship cannot begin until an informal internship has been successfully completed (The informal internship may be waived only by the principal or assistant superintendent). 

It may be necessary for reasons of cost and supervisory time to limit the number of interns the district may work with each school year. It is in the best interests of the interns and the district that the number of interns be limited to not more than one per building unit A first year principal will not be expected to supervise an intern. 

4. Advanced Internship 

Richland School District personnel that have successfully completed a Formal Internship may wish to continue to be involved in administrative activities. An Advanced Internship provides administrative candidates an informal opportunity to continue to be involved in activities that provide growth and training in leadership and administration. 

Participants in the Program 

1. Assistant Superintendent: assistant superintendent’s responsibilities are:

a. To review the plan of experiences with participants and supervisor. (Initial contact) 
b. To be available to meet with participants upon request 
c. To receive participation agreement from the college 
 

2. Supervisor: an immediate supervisor who has agreed to have an intern. Supervisor’s responsibilities are:

a. To help determine the inter’s experiences and goals. 
b. To arrange release time for the intern when possible and advisable. 
c. To communicate and discuss experience with the participant. 
d. To make periodic reports about participant’s progress to the assistant superintendent, but such action is not mandatory. 
e. To make final written report on the participant’s experiences and progress in concert with the participant. 
 

3. Intern: Any Richland School District employee who is interested in leadership training and whose application is accepted by the principal and assistant superintendent. An interested employee’s responsibilities are to:

a. File an application for an exploratory experience or internship with the assistant superintendent. 
b. Determine goals and timeline concerning experiences. 
c. Be willing to provide time outside the regular work day concerning his/her experience. 
d. Contact advisor monthly (phone call or meeting). 
e. Perform additional expectations as identified elsewhere in this document. 
 

Intern Candidate Qualifications 

The following qualifications are minimum requirements in order to be considered as an applicant for a formal internship position: 

  1. A record of demonstrated high quality teaching experience immediately prior to the application. 
  2. A minimum of one year teaching experience in the Richland School District 
  3. Participation and leadership in professional and community activities. 
  4. High moral and personal character. 
  5. Standard or continuing teaching certification. 
  6. Successful informal internship experience. 
  7. Evidence of acceptance in an administrative internship program in a college of his or her choice. 

Application and Selection Procedure 

The application and selection procedure outlined below is designed to be generally compatible with that of the colleges. The applicant has the responsibility for satisfying the requirements for both the school district and the selected college or university. School District application forms are available in the assistant superintendent for instruction's office. 

Procedures for Informal Internship 

  1. Applicant should secure his/her own supervisor before submitting the application. 
  2. Application must be completed and submitted to the assistant superintendent for instruction no later than the first of the month preceding the internship. 

Procedures for Formal Internship 

1. An Informal Internship must be completed and recorded with the assistant superintendent for instruction before a Formal Internship application will be considered. 

2. Interested applicants should submit a personal letter of application including the following items:

a. A brief statement of his or her philosophy of education. 
b. Specific areas and levels of interest in the field of educational administration, 
c. Reasons for the applicant's interest in the field of educational administration. 
d. Statement indicating the applicant's professional and community activities and interests. 
e. An outline of the program the applicant expects to follow in acquiring administrative credentials. 
f. Appropriate letters of recommendation. 
g. Other information the applicant might consider pertinent and not contained in his or her. personnel file in the central administration office. 
 

3. The applicant must provide evidence of his or her acceptance into an administrative preparation program by an accredited institution of higher learning and that he/she will be eligible for an internship at the time he/she plans to serve in the district. 

4. Applicants desiring to begin their Formal Internship must have completed and submitted their application to the assistant superintendent for instruction: 

  • For fall term, by May 15th, 
  • For winter term, by November 15th, 
  • For spring term, by February 15th. 

5. When possible, it is encouraged that some release time from the formal intern's regular instructional duties be provided to fulfill activities for which he/she may be responsible, and to attend certain meetings or visit innovative programs. 

6. Approval of a Formal Internship beginning winter or spring quarter will, in large part, depend on the availability and willingness of a supervising administrator. 

Formal Internship Responsibilities 

The administrative intern will be held responsible for meeting all school district and/or college requirements. He/she will be expected to be involved in the program from two weeks before school opens in the fall until one week after it closes in the spring. During the regular school year the time spent on the internship program will include before and after school time, and any other times which may be available during the day or as requested by the principal/supervisor. 

In addition, the intern will be held responsible for the following: 

  1. A complete summary of his/her internship experiences. 
  2. A complete check list or record of all internship experiences. 
  3. A final and complete evaluation of the intern's experience and progress from the district supervisor. 
  4. A notification to the college from the assistant superintendent that the intern has completed the experience portion of his/her program. A copy of the evaluation of performance should be attached. 

Intern Evaluation 

Evaluation of work done by the administrative intern will be made by the supervisor in consultation with the assistant superintendent for instruction. 

Oral evaluations will be made informally during the course of the internship by the supervisor/principal. Two formal evaluations will be made by the college representative as a result of his/her visitations to the program. One formal written evaluation will be made by the supervisor. 

The intern may request a confidential recommendation from the supervisor, the assistant superintendent for instruction, and/or the superintendent for his/her college placement file. 

Program Evaluation: Leadership Development Committee (Ad Hoc) 

The Leadership Development Committee shall have a total of seven members, the composition of which is as follows: 

  1. At least five certificated members: (1) At least three members from the Administrative Council: one elementary principal; one secondary principal; and one member from Curriculum and Instruction, Staff Development, or Special Programs. (2) Two teacher/specialist members. 
  2. At least two members from classified personnel or parents to be representative of different areas of the district. 

Selection of the Committee 

Selection of committee members shall be made by the assistant superintendent. 

  1. Certificated teacher members will be selected from recommendations submitted to the Assistant Superintendent by the Richland Education Association or principals. 
  2. Administrators will be selected from recommendations submitted by each principal group and Cabinet 
  3. Classified members will be selected from recommendations submitted through the personnel office. 

The Leadership Development Committee will review the activities of the Internship Program on a needs basis for program results and/or progress when evaluation is requested by Administrative Council. 

Committee Members: Committee member's responsibilities are: 

  1. To attend Leadership Development Committee meetings. 
  2. To encourage staff to participate in leadership training. 
  3. To develop program evaluation when requested. 

Adoption:

Adopted: March 12, 1990

Revised: April 29, 1997