Malden delegation announces $16,400 state grant for high school internships that enable students to explore the teaching profession

Special to The Advocate

State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino and Kate Lipper-Garabedian are pleased to announce that Malden Public Schools received a $16,400 High School Senior Internship in Education Project (HSSIEP) grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The HSSIEP program provides high school seniors with paid internships to explore the teaching profession as a potential career path. Students gain valuable experience by working with elementary school students in a classroom setting, learning instructional methods from mentor instructors and engaging in educator preparation curriculum. This program helps to grow the educator pipeline by engaging students while they are still in high school and seeks to help encourage a more racially diverse educator pipeline to support a teacher workforce that is reflective of the student populations served in Massachusetts.

“These internships are a terrific opportunity for high school students to explore what it is like to be a teacher through a paid, hands-on program,” said Senator Lewis, who is Senate Chair of the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education. “I’m pleased that Malden schools are receiving this grant that not only helps students see teaching as a potential career path, but also helps expand and diversify the teacher pipeline for our public schools.”

“I’m thrilled to see Malden Public Schools be a recipient of this important grant,” said Representative Donato. “This grant will help Malden students explore the teaching profession as a possible career path, as well as work to diversify the teaching workforce within our public schools.”

“I would like to congratulate Malden Public Schools for receiving such a critical grant,” said State Representative Steve Ultrino, who is House Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “The program not only allows high school seniors to explore a potential career path, but also learn what it means to be an educator through practice in their internship. I look forward to seeing our students participate in this unique opportunity.”

“As a former seventh grade teacher, I am mindful of the critical role that hands-on experience plays in informing a student’s learning and exploration of future professions,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian. “I am thrilled that Malden Schools has been awarded this competitive grant to provide high school seniors with paid internships to explore the teaching profession. This program will aid in growing and diversifying the educator pipeline, ensuring that students of color see their identities reflected in their teachers, which research shows to be crucial for student outcomes.”