In response to the unique challenges presented by COVID-19, the Houston Independent School District hired nearly 100 interns to tutor students remotely this summer.

HISD quickly pivoted its traditional Summer Student Leadership Program, in which students are hired for in-person internships in a variety of departments, to providing high-quality academic instruction virtually.

The district is committed to ensuring that students have access to competitive summer employment opportunities. This comes at a time when companies across the country are rescinding previously slated student job and internship offers. Despite the circumstances, HISD students can gain paid real-world work experience, develop their soft skills, and become more competitive applicants for colleges, scholarships, and jobs.

An estimated 40,000 students need summer school intervention. “Summer slide,” the learning loss that occurs during the summer months, has been exacerbated by COVID-19. The interns hired to support tutoring at HISD campuses have been instrumental in delivering lessons alongside teachers, contacting parents, finding key resources for their students, and much more.

Interns hired for the Virtual Student Leadership Program are either HISD high school students or alumni currently enrolled at a college or university. In addition to tutoring students, interns receive leadership and professionalism lessons each week. These lessons cover topics such as resume-writing, effective communication, and even personal finance. Students can test drive a potential career in education, while at the same time gaining valuable skills employers demand.

To learn more about the HISD Virtual Student Leadership Program, visit HoustonISD.org/Intern.