The Philadelphia Office of Fleet Management Internship Program, started in 1993, employs students who are enrolled in auto mechanic programs at local high schools to develop the skills they need to be productive in the workforce. “The benefit is you’re working,” says intern Darlington Princewell. “You’re learning a trade with professionals who are already in this field. And even if this is not something you want to do with the rest of your life, it’s still a trade you can carry with you.” The students come after school, are assigned to a garage, and work on city vehicles, such as marked police cars. “We need technicians to keep the city running,” says former internship director Lisa Spruill. “The city is winning and also that student is winning as well.” Coverage of after-school learning opportunities is supported in part by a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, at www.mott.org. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.
Coverage of afterschool learning opportunities is supported in part by a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, at www.mott.org. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.