Junior Scholars Summer Internship

This summer, high school students made big moves through the Preschool Promise Junior Scholars Summer Internship—a paid, hands-on opportunity to explore a career in early childhood education. With real classroom experience, one-on-one mentorship, and space to grow, they stepped into their power—gaining confidence, purpose, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be an educator.

Throughout the internship, students participated in “Brunch and Brainpower” sessions led by early childhood educators. These sessions gave students the chance to take a deeper dive into topics such as identifying developmentally appropriate materials for children and ensuring toys and books reflect the rich diversity of the children in their care.

We are proud to recognize and celebrate the Junior Scholars for completing the internship program—a major step forward in their educational and professional journeys.

Thank you to the following Partner Preschools for hosting and supporting these future educators: KB Child Development, Mini University-Hope Center, Ms. Shelly’s Place, On Purpose Academy, Rainbow Years, TrueFit Childcare, and Uniquely Dis-Zians.

Testimonials from some scholars

"The learning goal I focused on was building relationships. I worked towards this by greeting them every day and including myself in their playtime."

~ Kaelyn, Ms Shelly’s Place

"There are not a lot of males in the childcare field; because of that, I made a difference by being there for the kids and being a positive role model."

~ Derion, KB Child Development 

"I loved doing art with the children—I realized sometimes the project was not interesting or too difficult for the children, so I pivoted to my backup plan. The children had no idea—it’s always good to be able to pivot."

~ Nina, On Purpose Academy