LTIC (Jenny Roper)

LTI (Learning Through Internships):

Welcome back to the 2012-2013 school year! Our school is buzzing with excitement and anticipation as we plan, set goals, and ponder all the possibilities for the upcoming year. Durango Big Picture welcomes two new people to our team. We will have a Math Specialist, Daena Roberts, and Mandy Burkholder, a Student Teacher from Fort Lewis College. I am enjoying getting to know our new family members, we have almost 30 new students, and am thrilled at all the positive energy, spirit, and motivation they have added to our Big Picture culture.

Since the opening of Durango Big Picture High School in 2009, we have had 128 internships. I look forward to working with new Mentors and partnering with more businesses in the community this school year. I can’t thank the people in the Durango community enough for sharing their passions and careers with our students and donating their time to make learning happen outside the classroom challenging, fun, and relevant. Mentors make a world of difference and have a positive influence on the lives of our students. Without Mentors, our students and school would not be as successful.

For those of you who are not aware of our internship program, the following information will provide you with some general information:

Students at Durango Big Picture High School spend two days a week, typically on Tuesdays & Thursdays, in the community learning through internships. This is the most exciting component of our program. Students learn in a real-world setting from a Mentor who shares their passion. Students learn and practice a process to obtain and maintain an internship. Before starting an internship, our Mentors must go through a background check. Once that is complete, the Mentors and advisors work together to design the learning experience at the internship site. Our students are looking to explore potential careers and we ask our mentors to give our students a well- rounded experience in their places of business. This allows the students to gain a realistic and deeper understanding of what the career they're exploring is really like, as well as, a sense of what they will need to do post high school to prepare for that career. Students create and develop internship projects that are rich with Colorado Content Standards and meet graduation requirements that give back to their Mentors and internship sites.

If you have any questions, would like to be a Mentor, or think your business would be a great internship site and learning environment, please call Jenny Roper, Internship Coordinator & Counselor, at 970-259-0203 ext. 2702.

Email: jroper@durango.k12.co.us